South sends off 221 graduates

June 26 marked the end of a six-year journey for 221 seniors at Valley Stream South High School. They graduated.

It was a journey that began 2,129 days ago, class President Dawn Lupeke noted. She recalled them gathering in the courtyard for the first time, after moving up from a host of elementary schools, for their seventh-grade orientation on Aug. 27, 2008. In the next six years, they would take part in various competitions, sweep the Homecoming banner competition, unite to support a student with cancer and cheer on the eventual county-champion boys’ basketball team.

“As a class we have grown remarkably,” she said. “We have come together both in times of need and times of celebration. We all had special moments at South that will remain dear to us.”

It was the 57th class to graduate from South, and Principal Maureen Henry said the seniors have left a lasting impact on the school. She noted the prestigious colleges they have been accepted to including MIT, Cornell, Dartmouth and NYU. The senior class has been awarded more than $2 million in scholarships.

“I am very proud of this class,” she said. “They were wonderful role models for their younger peers. It has been my privilege to watch these students grow into caring young adults.”

Salutatorian Stanley Egbuchulam said it wasn’t always easy for the class, as they got the reputation of being rowdy and rambunctious in their early years at South. But in six years, a transformation took place as they went from children to young adults, and they achieved the great milestone of graduating high school.

Egbuchulam called on his classmates to applaud their parents for providing a great deal of support over the years, and South’s teachers, staff and administrators for helping to guide the students along their way.

He and valedictorian Kevin Li both reminded their fellow graduates that education is a lifelong venture. Li compared life to a puzzle and encouraged his classmates to choose their own pieces.

Henry told the seniors to follow their dreams and strive to make a difference. “Every one of you have something very special to share with the world,” she said.

See more photos from the graduation ceremony here.