Over 500 Uniondale High School seniors celebrated their graduation on Saturday at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Complex, marking the close of the 2024-25 school year. Speeches throughout the ceremony reflected students’ hard work, the dedication of faculty, a deep sense of community pride and hopes for the future.
This year’s valedictorian, Alison Nieto, dedicated her speech to her friends, who, she said, made important contributions to her success. She reminded her classmates that they were the first seniors since the coronavirus pandemic to complete all four years in person — a journey shaped by both unexpected challenges and hard-earned triumphs.
“Don’t lose your hope — the world right now can feel unpredictable and heavy, but positivity is one of the most powerful tools,” Nieto said. “Even if you find one thing — just one thing — to be happy about in your day, you’ll be OK. That joy, that spark, is what keeps us going.”
Nieto was a member of the national, science, math, Spanish and Tri-M Music honor societies. She plans to study chemistry and optometry at Columbia University this fall.
This year’s salutatorian, Katherine Molina Medrano, gave a teary-eyed speech reflecting on her high school journey and
the loss of her father when she was in middle school.
Molina Medrano described her father as the person who “meant the world” to her. She recalled how he worked long nights to ensure that she had a future filled with opportunities.
“His absence taught me something that I carry with me every day, that time is precious, and so are people that you share it with.”
Molina will pursue a degree in math and statistics at Emory University.
During her time in high school, Molina Medrano was involved in Key Club, and took AP courses including chemistry and biology.
Though she is proud of her accomplishments, she acknowledged the challenges, teachers and friends that she will miss most. “You all mean so much more to me than any GPA or success,” she said. “You helped me shape the person I am today.”
In her remarks to the graduates, Mary Bediako, president of the Uniondale Board of Education, reminded them that learning in high school isn’t confined to the classroom.
“Your journey wasn’t just about textbooks you read, the formulas you memorized or the exams you conquered,” Bediako said. “It was about the lessons you don’t have grades with.”
The school’s new principal, Shawn Brown, who just completed his first year at Uniondale High, acknowledged the crucial role parents played — both in supporting their children and in helping him navigate the school year.
“Thank you so much, parents,” Brown said. “Your complaints, your anger and your rage were only hiding a deep-rooted love you have for your children.”
He urged them to “Learn how to deal with conflict, learn how to forgive, learn how to compromise, learn how to articulate yourself — we live in a world where people do not know how to treat people as people.”
