By ALEX COSTELLO
"Oh behalf of the class of 2009, I'd like to say thank you to our parents, teachers, coaches and guidance counselors," said Salutatorian Gregory Fox in his address. "I learned that although others can help, I am ultimately responsible for my successes and failures."
After Fox's speech, the Laurel Awards, for the seniors who have been most involved in extracurricular activities, were presented by Superintendent Dr. William Johnson to Robert Ditta and Rebecca Byrne. South Side Principal Dr. Carol Burris gave the Richard S. Beyers School-Community Service Award to Steven Kane. And the Centennial Award for School and Community, presented by Andrew Krouss, president of the Alumni Association, went to class Valedictorian Amanda Roman.
Johnson also awarded an honorary diploma to Board of Education Secretary Lorrie Brady, who is retiring after 21 years of service to the school district.
After the awards, Roman addressed her classmates, offering both serious observations and comic relief. "I'm not sure I have any pearls of wisdom to offer," she said, "or if I'd even follow my own advice." Instead, she read words of inspiration that she found on Facebook.
Board of Education President Mark Masin followed Roman, offering the graduates some advice about their future. "Learn from all of your new experiences, and be prepared for all the twists and turns you'll definitely have," Masin said. "You need to take an active part in who you are and who you want to become.
"Think what you can give back to your community, country and planet," he concluded.
Burris, the last to speak, applauded the seniors one final time. "I think you might be the best-looking class we've had in a while," she said.
She added that 97 percent of the class earned Regents diplomas and 87 percent earned those diplomas with Advanced Distinction, the greatest academic achievement in South Side's history.
"I thank you for all you've given us during your four years at South Side High School," Burris concluded before formally presenting the class of 2009 to Johnson and beginning the presentation of diplomas. When it was complete, the graduates tossed their mortarboards en masse, the first step in the next chapter of their lives.
South Side High School Graduating Class 2009
Lisa M. Abreu
L'Oreal C. Adams
Nathan A. Agati
Elizabeth Ahern
Kevin Alexander
Ryan Alexander
Matthew Alfano
Idris Alford
Ryan P. Alles
Jordan Albert Almonte
Katherine Angulo
Alexandra Appel
Marc H. Arcuri
Cecilia Marisol Arevalo
Jessica Marie Baccaglini
Jonathan Read Baez
Brendan George Banks
Jessica L. Barden
Shameika C. Barnett
Steven Barrere
Tiffany K. Barrett
Traci Baydala
Ian Falcon Beckelman
Victoria Benjamin
Sage R. Bernstein
Christopher James Berry
Timothy E. Blackford
Cory Blitz
Christopher S. Brown Jr.
Kevin R. Brown
Taylor Bryn
Casey Burke
Colleen N. Burns
Matthew J. Buzzi
Rebecca Ray Byrne
John I. Byrnes
Julianna S. Caputo
Almedina Cecunjanin
Christina Bianca Chahalis
Nicholas Chu
Nicolette Coan
Cristy Dahianny Collado
David Edward Colletta
Danielle L. Collins
Michelle Cotter
Caroline Cozier
John Crisciullo
Nicole Croutier
Daniel John Curran
Pedro DeLaCruz
Victoria DeLouise
Lauren DeMara
Frankie Diaz
Franklin A. Diaz
Jenna DiIorio
Joseph Anthony Dinielli
Robert Ditta
Charles James Dragovich
Stephanie Lynn Drucker
Elizabeth Early
Justin Joseph Eastzer
Katherine Elizabeth Egan
Sarah B. Fahlund
Michelle Ferguson
Perri Fetner
James Fliste
David Zachary Forman
Jaclyn Fortel
Gregory Fox
Brianne Frew
Lyell Samuel Funk
Mary Katherine Furlong
Andrew R. Gaffney
Kristina C. Gallagher
Sarah B. Galler
Virginia Garcia
Derek L. Gaspard
Juliet A. Gennari
Gizelle M. Geraci
George Vincent Germano III
John Paul Giampaolo
Regina N. Giarraputo
Henry J. Gillett
Alexander Gonzalez
Brodie George Gouse
Basha Green
Caitlin A. Gregory
Elizabeth M. Haller
John Halley
Allyson May Harlin
George Philip Hawriluk
Adolfo Hernandez
Kellie Jean Higgins
Christina A. Hill
Lawrence Andrew Hinton
Gillian Hogg
Christopher Holmes
Caroline Shelley Horowitz
Thomas Howard
Jennifer Hughes
Katina Marie Hughes
Michael D. Hughes III
Michael W. Itgen
Kevin Patrick Jackson
Owen Jean-Aimee
Steven Jimenez
Andrew D. Jung
Brittany Carolyn Kahn
Ethan Scott Kaiser
Alexandra Grace Kalafatis
April Elizabeth Kane
Steven Kane
Shakima R. Kelley
Shakira C. Kelley
Eric Kessler
Bernard W. Kiernan III
Kathleen K Kirby
Jonathan T. Kirschen
Katherine H. Kollitides
Jonathan Koppel
Stephanie Brooke
Kornblum
Timothy Krutzler
Gabrielle N. Kur
Harrison Kurrus
Maureen Elizabeth Kutner
Sunghyok Kwon
Kaitlin Lagudi
Joseph Andrew Lancellotti
Brian Laureano
Young Eun Lee
Greg Lipsit
Tara Lonergan
Jisleny Lopez
Kerry S. Lopez
Lisbeth Lora
Kevin Anthony Luparello
John Luvin
Meghan E. Lynch
Robert Graham Lynch
Lisa Macklin
Joseph Malizia
Nicholas Mallay
Matthew Marano
Melissa Marengo
James P. Marinelli
Allison Jaye Marino
Kaitlyn T. Marks
Almi Marmol
Joel Martinez
Thomas Joseph
McCartin Jr.
Ronan McClorey
Maria Lilyh McCrystal
Michael A. McDerby
Kerriann McFadden
Kathleen T. McGarry
Patrick J. McKenna
Clint McLaughlin
Matthew Hayes McNally
Brendan Paul Meehan
Celeste Menna
Thomas James Meriam
James Mario M. Messina
Erica Michelle Metzger
Ronald Andrew Miceli
Sabrina H. Millington
Eric J. Monaco
Elizabeth Rose Monfort
Karina V. Montalvo
Cegee Moore
Richard Anthony Morin Jr.
Bridget Murray
Mark C. Murray
John A. Musacchio
Samantha M. Musumeci
Denise A. Natoli
Erica Negron
Codi Ng
Jennifer Nicholas
Elisabeth Oldis
Nicholas C. O'Reilly
Jaclyn Catherine Palazzolo
Joseph Robert Palazzolo
Kimberly Pastore
William Maxwell Paymar
Richard Pelligrini
Michelle C. Pellizzi
Diane Perez
Christopher M. Perryman
Amanda M. Petrone
Dominic Piselli
Ryan James Porter
Kevin Andrew Pribil
Jonathan D. Proano
Alexandra Timmons Quinn
Yuderka Ramirez
Daniel Randazzo
Catherine Ratto
Maria Ravn
Timothy G. Redeker
Meaghan E. Rederscheid
Rodney B. Reed Jr.
Connor Reid
Shantell R. Reid
Talia Reid
Meagan E. Remy
Robert P. Remy
Thomas P. Reynolds
Sharifah Robertson
Jana (Janay) Maya
Robinson
Gabriel J. Rodriguez
Amanda Roman
Anthony Christopher Roman, Jr.
Danielle M. Romano
Jeanine Marie Rosa
Spencer J. Rudolph
Cassandra Rose Ryan
Nicholas John Ryerson
Veronica Salvador
Cynthia Sandoval
Stephanie Saravia
Jamie Schissel
Courtney Marie Schuerman
Caitlin E. Schumacher
Jordan Scolaro
Jon Vincent Scordato
Lauren A. Scotto
Robert Sean Seaman
Drew Seeger
Jenna Rae Seganti
Kelly Marie Shanley
Tara Marie Shelley
Christopher J. Sheppard
Xavier Sime Severino
Suzanna G. Slavin
Kaela Smith
Keira Smith
Larry N. Smith
Owen M. S Smith
Kristen Sonnick
Eric J. Sorenson
Stella Christina Stavrou
Ashley Strangio
Bryan Patrick Sundermier
Jennifer L. Talkachov
Jonathan D. Tan
Patrick James Tonno
Edwin R. Torres
Ramon Torres
Adeline Ugarte
Irene Vasiliou
Joseph C. Vastola
Alexandra Vigliarolo
Jenna Ilizabeth Wechsler
Beth Weine
Chloe' Skye Weiser
Alexandra R. Wellbrock
Alexandra Rose Werther
Emari E. Willie
Jesse Adam Winter
Jennifer Nadia Wong
Alanna K. York
Shawn W. Young
Regina Anne Zaremba
Martin J. Zelenko
Paige Isadora Zuzzolo
Comments about this story? ACostello@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
