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The next Renaissance is yours, Lower Cape grads told
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LOWER TOWNSHIP - Valedictorian Christopher Ferrante called his classmates "modern day da Vincis" and urged them to bring about another Renaissance.
Ferrante, speaking during the 49th commencement exercises here at Lower Cape May Regional High School, said the world is changing so fast it needs creative thinkers. Ferrante said the first black president and the green energy movement are examples of such changes.
"Embrace change and let your creative spirit soar. I believe the world needs more innovative thinkers. We live at a time when the rate of change is unfathomable," Ferrante said.
He also told his classmates their education has given them the tools to succeed. It is their job, whether expressed through "words, melodies, paint or a pen," to go out and be creative.
"We need to redefine what it means to be a Renaissance man. I think we agree society needs a rebirth. We are a generation on the cusp of a Renaissance, a rebirth, a new beginning," Ferrante said.
The weather seemed to be just right for the occasion - sunny and with a cool breeze - as hundreds of family, friends and school personnel crowded Steven Steger Field on the final day together for the Class of 2009.
The crowd was welcomed by Senior Class President Cheyenne Seonia. She said the four years at the high school were "pure bliss" for some and "comparable to a jail sentence" to others, but she noted good humor can get people through anything, even if their life turns into a "neurotic Woody Allen saga."
Salutatorian Sarah Victoria Elliott urged her class not to pursue money or security but to find what brings them joy and then do it.
"I hope you find your bliss," Elliott said.
Elliott said value is not about material things, but rather adding to the lives of those around us. She also told her classmates to be dreamers.
"I truly believe each one of us has the power to change the world for the better," Elliott said.
She also thanked those who made their educations possible, including the teachers, the custodians who swept the halls and the taxpayers who footed the bill.
Principal Joseph Castellucci said 2009 is the top class in college scholarships, volunteer and charity work. Castellucci joked about the band The Jetsons, which got in trouble for playing the Pink Floyd anthem "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" at a recent talent show here. Castellucci noted controversies are good in the music business.
"If they ever make it big, I believe The Jetsons owe me big-time residuals," Castellucci said, drawing laughs from the crowd.
Superintendent of Schools Jack Pfizenmayer packed a lot into his short speech.
"Do something strictly for others. Use your talents and help someone less fortunate. Be careful out there. Work hard. Don't take anything for granted. Make new friends and don't forget old ones. Experience the world but never forget where you grew up, on the beaches of Cape May County, New Jersey," Pfizenmayer said.
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The graduates are:
Rebecca Ackley, Arthur Adams, Amanda Lee Addesso, Wesley Michael Adkins, Nicole Albert, Emily Alexander, Stephanie Alexander, Thaddeaus Ament, Olivia Marie Archer, Allen Ashbridge, Amanda Lauren Axelsson, Luis Gilberto Ramos Ayala, Joshua Babbish, Richard Bachofen, Anthony Barbera, Kevin Barstow, Thomas Stevenson Baxter Jr, Bobbi Beers, John Benigno, Mariah Berger, Molly Bianca Bernstein, Sarah M. Bernstein, Andrew Betz, Shayna Blau, Carrin Blomkvest, Rachael Marie Bohn, Kevin Bonner, Brianna Bove, Vincent Bove, Kyle Matthew Boyle, Heather Bradley, Timothy Brady, Ethan Brandenburg, Samantha Brennan, Alexander Killian Broderick, Jonathon Ryan Brown, Lindsay Bryan, Matthew Burlaga, Tammy Calverley, Edward Campbell, Tyler Carango, Tyler Carman, James V. Catanoso, Deborah Cerwonka, Cortney Chiarle, Amber Clark, Christopher Clegg, Taylor Connelly, Scott R. Cooley Jr, Kristy Coughlin, Sarah Elizabeth Craddock, Francis Crawford, Rebecca Rose Crossan, William Kyle Patrick Damiana, Eric Danze, Sierra De Weese, Nicole Maria DeCicco, Brandy Dempsey, Christopher Denham, Jacob Michael Di Lullo, Alanna Di Paolo, Craig Dietsch, Kaitlin Donnelly, Gabrielle Dougan, Lauren Suzanne Douglass, Megan Douglass, Doyle Dowdell, Albert Dowe, Thomas Dunlevy, Jessica Eagan, Sarah Victoria Elliott, Sarah Erthal, William Evans, Christopher James Ferrante, Kathryn Fischer, Mariah Fishman, Marcello Fittipaldi, Stephen Fletcher, Sarah Anne Foltz, Breanna Fulk, Anthony George, Vincent Gilberti, Jodie Gilliard, Chelsea Girard, Vincent Glitz Jr., Jessica Lynn Gorman, Ryan Gott, Victoria Gotwols, Nicholas Grace, Michael Grande, Camille S. Gray, William Hackett, Taylor Haley, Cori Dorothea Hansen, William Jeremiah Harner, IV, Veronica Harwood, Nikki Haug, Nicholas Heishman, Janiushka Herrera Serrano, Josiah David Hetherington, Deidre Hickman, Michael Hickman, Christina Hodges, Cody Hoff, Elizabeth Holland, Luke Steven-David Holzknecht, Joseph Horn, Kevin Howard II, Justin J. Hubbard, Cassandra Hynds, Angela Rose Isaacson, Julianne Jacob, Kelsey June James, Nicholas A. Jasinski, Evan Johnson, Catherine Ad�le Jones, Christopher Jones, Brittney Jordan, Justin Jordan, Jason Kancylarz, Carol Kane, Kelsey Keech-Sosna, Matthew Kelley, Katherine Rebecca King, Jay'se Knapp, Brittany Koch, Katlin Elizabeth Kocher, James T. LaBree, Wayne Laffitte, Victoria Dawn LaRoche, Amanda Leonard, Florence Elizabeth Leszczynski, Tyler Leszczynski, Amanda Lloyd, Justin Thomas Lo Monaco, Michael Long, Richard Arthur Lubus Jr., Ashley Mack, Sean Macomber, Edwin Magee, James Magee, Alicia Magill, Shane Mallon, Anastasia J. Maniotis, Marissa Marshall, Isaias Martinez, Anthony Martino, Deanna Martino, Jessica Mast, Alexandra Michelle Matthews, Jared Matthews, Dale Thomas Maurer, Paul Mayhue, Brittany Mc Cabe, AnneMarie Mc Clintock, Jamie Lynn McDowell, Nancy McKinney, Elisa Rose Miller, Sarah Margaret Miller, Thomas Mohr Jr, Nallely Montes, Joshua Morris, Emily Jean Moulder, Daniel Mouser, Mary Mullen, Jesse Munsick, Joseph Charles Murray, Wendy Faye Doris Muth, Alexander Myers, John Myers, Benjamin C. New, Julie Newman, Chelsea Nolan, Brandon Obermeier, Angela Olden, Michael J. Oliver, Craig T. Oliver Jr, Brittney O'Malley, William Omrod, Katelyn Marie O'Rourke, Kylie Anne O'Rourke, Marcus Patterson, Margaret Peer, Jesse A. Pentlicki, Jamie Leigh Perkins, Thomas Perry, Victoria Tallyn Peterson, James Pettit, Destanie Pickin, Joshua Micheal Pierce, Candice Pigford, Michael P. Pittman, Stephen Playford, Dillon Plumley, Nona Poehler, Samantha Pompei, Patrick Popiolek, Jonathan Riley Presnell, Ryan M. Protasi, Nicolette Purcell, Nicholas A. Rambo, Destiny Reid-Brimfield, Kayla M. Reidenbach, Josh Revak, Tami Riddle, Ryan Riederer, Laura Katherine Robinson, Ryan Robinson, Brielle Rodgers, Danielle Kathleen McGowan Rodgers, Kyle Rodriguez, Stephanie Rojas, Michael Rollins, Christian Rosa, Brittany Rosenzweig, Christine Rossi, Danielle Veronica Rubio, Kathryn Rutherford, Nickita Salmon, Julie Noelle Sangillo, Sarah Sapowycz, Jonathan Sayre, Corey Alexander Scheid, Brittney Scott, Charles Scott, Erin M. Seer, Cheyenne Seonia, John Thomas Shaughnessy II, Ryan P. Sheets, William Shifflett, Christina Sims, Lindsey Smith, Taylor Smith, Audrey Snow, Steven J. Steger, Stephen Sullivan, James Tanghare, Jennifer Roe Ireene Tatar, Rachel Victoria Taylor, Sheppard Walter Taylor III, Gabriella Tecco, Trebvor Thomas, Lindsey Tomaschik, Steven Edward Tomlin, Jr., Christina Vassar, Devin Velli, Gaetano Versace Versace, Micaela Vibanco, Megan Vitelli, Mubarak Walker, Brendan Wallace, Carrianne Walsh, Andrew Joseph Wampler, Samantha J. Watson, Susan Marie Watt, Elana Weiss, Devon Wermuth, Kierstin Katherine Marie Whitten, Kevin Wiley, Joseph Williams, Kyle Williams, Ross Williams, Justin T. Williamson, Kemalynn Elizabeth Williamson, Michelle C. Winter, Cory Wright
The Press is not responsible for errors in graduate listings provided by the schools. Any discrepancy, omission or misspelling should be brought to the attention of the school.
Posted in Cape_may on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 3:10 am
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