2011 Hen Hud Graduation: Optimism, Energy and Humor

"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't the sport for you," was the advice that Salutorian Tara Kutzbach gave her audience and classmates at the graduation ceremony for the class of 2011 on Sunday.

Kutzbach helped set the tone for an inspiring, amusing and moving graduation ceremony at the SUNY Purchase campus where the ceremony was held. Parents, students and educators took pride in the achievements of the graduating youth and looked forward with a mix of excitement, anticipation and anxiety.

Despite the fact that this year's speakers came from many different places and perspectives, each warned the new graduates not to let classes get in the way of their education as humans and adults, and not to let data get in the way of their learning.

"While your grades will be important, they won't define you--but your experiences will," said Keynote Speaker Francesca Choy-Key, a graduate of the Hen Hud class of 2002 who has won her masters degree and created a career as an actress that has seen her perform in Europe and at the Yale Repertory Theater.

Hendrick Hudson has 882 students. It achieved a graduation rate of 99 percent on Sunday, and, of those, more than 98 percent were headed on to college. Community energy and graduation excitement filled the 1500-plus auditorium at Purchase.

Educators and students addressed the challenges presented by the difficult economy and by a world that is rapidly changing.

High school principal James L. Mackin, Jr. mentioned that in the 15 years he's been in education, both the tools and the opportunities facing the parents of students and educators have changed. He said that one of the thing's that's made a big difference at Hen Hud is people's willingness to pitch in and help. "I've never been in a community that was so supportive when people needed it--and even when they didn't," Mackin told the crowd.

Despite the uncertainties ahead, graduates welcomed their chances to leap into the an unknown future with enthusiasm and good will. They, too, talked of the importance of community support.

"We can all conceive of achieving great things, but we need a little help from our friends to make them a reality," said Valedictorian

Watching the company you keep and listening to what they say is a vital step towards growth and maturity, said Superintendent Dr. Daniel T. McCann. "As you go on in life, you will learn untold lessons by being in the presence of good people."

Once their tassels were turned and caps hurled into the air, students were eager to get out of their auditorium and into the summer air. Many will be spending the coming months relaxing and preparing to head to some of America's leading educational institutions.

Naima I. Hakim is going to Princeton; Isabelle Esther Baransky to Columbia and White to Boston College. Other students were headed towards a variety of institutions ranging from Fordham University to Coastal Carolina University. Read a full list of Hen Hud grad college destinations .

Wherever the graduates were headed, their parents and teachers expressed pride in their achievements.

Marion Walsh, school board president, who’s daughter Anna will be attending Dartmouth next fall expressed the crowd’s sentiment, "As a school board president and a parent, I'm extraordinarily proud of the class of 2011. It's overwhelming to see the students graduate.”

Hendrick Hudson High School

Graduates – Class of 2011

Kerry Joy Adams

Ulani Adamson

Ryan Ahlers

Maria Victoria L. Alas

Alexis Leigh Albano

Peter Michael Amato

Ashley Anna Augustine

Isabel Esther Baransky

John Anthony Barnas

Daniel Eliot Baskin

Michael Angelo Bertoline

Marisa Bianco

Daniel Morgan Block

Kseniya Bolotnik

Kimberly Borst

Ryan Brennan

Daniel Robert Briggi

Shelby Renee Brockhausen

Rachel S. Buckner

Juliana Danielle Burns

Jose David Bustamante

Bruno Joseph Calabro

Esteban F. Camino

Joseph Capasso

Jamie L. Carino

John B. Castaneda

Kathleen Rita Ceccarelli

Raffaele Cerbone

Kerin Chadwick

Brian Scott Chavez

Jonathan Cohen

Jordan Conliffe

Elizabeth Connell

Andrew John Connolly

Massimo J. Covone

Nicholas Crimmins

Erica Cristobal

Evan S. Cuttitta

Christina Marie D'Onofrio

Meghan Faith Davis

Julia DeCrenza

Roberta L. Desiderio

Joseph J. Di Cioccio, Jr.

Melissa Nicole Dieudonne

John Dinki

Troy Patrick Donahue

Anastasia Coralee Edwards

Kyle Delaney Fanning

Meredith Alice Fay

Stephen Ian Febres

Rebecca Elizabeth Ferrari

James Fitzgerald

Leah Michaela Galant

Alexandra Gallo

Gabriella Nicole Gambone

Julia Garcia

Meghan Lee Gilbert

Danielle Marie Giuliano

Matthew J. Glashoff

Gregory James Graziani

Mark Gregory

Heather Rose Gross

Iysha Yzette Grullon

Rose Hadsell

Naimah I. Hakim

Isis Mahogany Hall

Valerie Grace Hamilton

Kyle Hanney

Danielle E. Hardman

Alana Michelle Harris

Crystal Rose Herbert

Emilyann Rachel Hindin

Richard E. Hooper III

Rebecca Imbimbo

Kevin G. Jackson

Christopher James

Michele Jensen

Richard T. Johnson

Ajith Joseph

Brian Juliano

Christopher Karas

Carol Kassas

Brittany Lyn Kear

Alexandra Nicole Kennedy

Brian Kenny

Shannon Paige Kenny

Miranda Eve Kephart

Melissa A. Kessler

Brittany Allison Klein

Erica Lynne Kleinbaum

Aaron Kline

Elizabeth Helen Koch

Peter C. Kreatsoulas

Anna Kushnir

Tara Genevieve Kutzbach

Christopher James Larmore

Vincent M. Laureti

Victoria R. Lee

Frederick Henry Lent IV

Haley N. Levesque

Gabrielle Nicole Lewis

Nicola C. Licata

Nikola Lipovac

James E. Mackey

Jeffrey M. Malgady

Gina Marie Margiotta

Courtney Marques

John Paul Marquez

Lauren Martin

Michael Richard Martin

Rachel Martin

Jonathan I. Martinez

Dakota Aristede Mastroddi

Thomas V. Mastroddi

Lucas Maurin

Lucas Maxwell

Alexander S. Melnik

Miguel A. Mendez

Susan Milani

Jaclyn Nichole Miranda

Christine J. Moon

Joi Danielle Moore

Richard Anthony Morabito

Robert C. Morgan

Teanna Ènize Morrisey

Fernando T. Nazario

Sareeta Dolores Nethersole

Vivian R. Nicastro

Elizabeth Novohradsky

Timothy J. Noye

Anthony David Nunes

William Barrett Nunn

Alexa O'Dell

Peter John O'Neill

Georgina M. Ochoa

Rikki Laurice Paribello

Maria Angelica Patino

Krysta Patrick

Samantha Pell

Steven Perilli

Casey Peterson

Robert T. Picarelli

Alyssa Dorothy Picariello

Nilsa Portillo

Lauren Price

Joseph Prusnofsky

Juan Francisco Quezada Carrion

Zachary Adam Raffio

Michael Reichard

Anthony Taylor Rizzo

Magdalena Rodriguez

Nicholas S. Rodriguez

Brianna Romano

Kelsey Jane Rosenblum

Kaitlyn Ross

Megan Roush

Sophie Ruff

Jessica F. Russo

James J. Ryan

Ivanni Camila Sacco

Dayana Sanmartin Gonzalez

Emily Sarcone

Erica Nicole Schappert

Rachel Margaret Schappert

Ashley Schupbach

Benjamin L. Schwartz

Jake Matthew Shuchat

Luis Siguenza

Kimberly Nicole Silver

Nicholas Simmons

Valerie Simmons

Georgina B. Simon

Rebekah A. Singer

Michael Siu

Nicholas D. Slinskey

Albert James Small III

Rachael Anne Smith

Michael Spinelli

Matthew Stewart

Emily Elizabeth Cochran-Stiff

Zack Andrew Struver

Brendan Szendro

Jackie Lynn Tamburri

Kerri Lynn Thomas

Rebecca Tobin

Amanda L. Tomaselli

Sam Treinish

Shante Shanell Trotter

Nicole Lynn Turner

Bianca Marie Ubilla

Martha Cristina Uyaguari Chica

Takeem R. Valentine

Joseph Velders

Kymberleigh N. Vigliotti

Diego Villa

Melissa Vulaj

Anna Caroline Walsh

Christopher Walker

Marie-Luise Walther

Victoria Ward

Jeffrey P. White

Taylor Michelle Wickel

Jessica R. Wiener

Rebecca Williams

Jaime Wooster

Vincent Yang

Brendan Zachary

Jonathan Zambrano