66.0°,
Mostly Cloudy The pride of South Side High School
Rockville Centre's seniors graduate
Excitement, anticipation and pride filled the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University last Friday afternoon, as hundreds of family members and friends watched members of South Side High School's class of 2010 file into their seats, accompanied by junior class members of the National Honor Society, and strains of
"Pomp and Circumstance." The flag salute and the national anthem, sung by Crystalyn Wynter — a member of the graduating class — got the program off to a moving start.
Thanking her colleagues and teachers, Salutatorian Lori Ying spoke first, reminding classmates to inquire, learn and embrace the intricacies of their surroundings.
After Ying's speech, the Centennial Award for School and Community, presented by SSHS Alumni Association President Andrew Krouss, went to Brett Cohen. Kyle O'Neil received the Dr. Richard S. Byers School and Community Service Award, presented by Principal Dr. Carol Burris. Superintendent Dr. William Johnson then called Benjamin Kutner and Cathy Mackey to the stage to receive the Laurel awards for seniors who were most involved in extracurricular activities.
Retiring English teacher Russell Reid, known to many South Side students during his 40-year tenure, also received an honorary diploma during the ceremony.
"This is it! Today we really are done with high school," said Valedictorian Alyssa Ehrlich. "But it's not the end ... it's the beginning."
Ehrlich spoke of the diverse, multiple talents and intelligences that made the class of 2010 special, and ended her address by saying that the lessons graduates were most likely to take with them are those involving choices — and their consequences.
Board of Education Vice President Stephen Kriss, with his twin children, graduates Emma and Daniel, listening, took on the theme of building bridges in his remarks. Beginning with a story that involved a literal bridge built from logs that helped a friend of his daughter's who had become mired in mud during a hike — solving what looked like an impossible situation — Kriss told the graduates that they had already been building bridges and solving problems.
