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'God seen fit to let the sun shine on Bridgeton'
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BRIDGETON - To many who gathered here Tuesday evening to watch the members of Bridgeton High School's Class of 2009 receive their diplomas, the sun's presence served as an auspicious omen.
Even Angelia Edwards, president of the city's school board, couldn't help but acknowledge it as she made her remarks to the hundreds of family members and friends who had packed into the Jim Hursey Memorial Stadium.
"All the other graduations in the county had rain," Edwards said as the sun began to set behind her, casting a golden hue on about 260 graduates clad in maroon and white. "But God seen fit to let the sun shine on Bridgeton."
As it turned out, weather played an important role at the graduation ceremony, which was titled "The Rain May Fall Upon the Plain, but the Prints of 2009 Will Remain."
The theme was present throughout the several speeches made by students, and they all expressed a deep and collective sense of accomplishment at having reached the milestone of high school graduation.
Valedictorian Kenon Street Jr., who will be attending New York's Fordham University in the fall, said the many obstacles he and fellow students faced in reaching their goal gave them unique preparation for the economic challenges of life in the real world.
"No matter how hard the rain falls, no matter how long the rain falls, our prints will remain," he said. "You want to know why? Because we're from Bridgeton High School. We've had to deal with tougher, more challenging things than a recession."
Bridgeton is one of the poorest school districts in New Jersey, and its approximately $80 million budget is funded primarily by the state. Cumberland County, for which Bridgeton serves as county seat, is the state's poorest, and also one that has the worst teenage pregnancy rate.
To graduating senior Cameron Hudson, those negative stereotypes are often unfairly extended onto the students who go to Bridgeton High School.
In his remarks at Tuesday's graduation, which were translated into Spanish by senior class secretary Christian Miguel, Hudson said his fellow students continue to shatter the perceptions many have of youth in Bridgeton.
"How foolish are they who live by these paradigms," he added. "For all those who proclaim we have not overcome, let them witness this day when we shine our light upon the Earth."
The graduates are:
Aron Acevedo, Jackeline Acevedo, J. David Aguilar, Antonio Andon, Yasmin Y. Angel, Kiandra A. Anthony, Judit Aragon, Edward Armstead, Thalia Y. Ayala Morales, Edgar Balbuena, Jvonna Elaine Bard, Jessica Bautista, Ashley Elaine Bell, Philip Blizzard, Bud Bojaciuk, Sheila Celestine Bonner, Takeria Bowser, Andre L. Boyd, Joslyn M. Brady, Wendy J. Brewer, Alisha Brown, Jerron L. Brown, Tevis Denzell Bryant, Jessica Bunton, Kala Burns, Amanda Burt, Leticia Carrasco, Eddie Alvarez Castro, Michael Chance, Salan Marie Chapman, Meagan Alicia Charlton, Raheem Chatum, James N. Coombs, Jr, Laura C Couch, Ryan Coursey, Jeremy S Crawford, Kasey Crispo, Alicia Cruz, Frank Cruz, Lic'eth Cruz, Wendy S Cruz, Leonardo J Curiel, Elijah Davis, Darrell Dawkins, Shane T. Dayton, Jennifer C. Dennis, Varonica J. Diaz, Kevin L. Elliott Jr., Riyadh A. Evans Sr., Brett C. Federico, Stephanie M. Fentress, Jessica Figueroa, Diana Flores, Emely M. Flores, Sandy S. Flores, Jaykara S. Floyd, Samantha Judith Francis, Taquann R. Frazier, Amber L. Frost, Giovanni Garcia, Iban Garcia, Monica A. Garcia, Maria Victoria Garcia Perez, Rosalinda Garcia-Roman, Shabiran Gardner, Tymier Phillip Gault, Brenda Lea George, Marvin German, Felisha Glass, Latifa Marie Glenn, Amanda Gomez, Javier Gonzalez, Luis Gonzalez, Melissa Amber Gonzalez, Humberto Gonzalez Elias, Tiffany Brittesha Gould, Joshua L. Gravely, Krysta Grimes, Leslie V. Guiza, Jose Luis Gutierrez, Leslie K. Gutierrez, Jentoya Hadden, Kyana Hadden, Milton Hall, Leston L. Hall Jr., Amanda Patrice Hanes, Sharaea Hannah, Rajahn Hargrove, Chanise Ta'Shay Harris, Charmaine La' Tia Harris, Jacqueline O. Hernandez, Sharena Hernandez, Soledad Hernandez, Ernest Hicks, Kieron Hicks, Matthew Hinton, Amber Dawn Holley, Tiffany A. Hopson, Robert A. Hudgon, Cameron Hudson, Derick Hunter, Tameka Lynne James, Wiganya Janwaowam, Jeremiah J. Johnson, Kashiya Jones, Robert A. Jones, Tawaun D. Jones, Zyarhon A. Jones, Thomas Edwin Jones III, Johnesha Joynes, Tykeria R. Kates, Damen Kelley, Eric Kwasnicki, Meghan Langley, Christian Layne, Dwayne Lingo, Charlei A. Lowe, Efrain Lugo-Cecilio, Kurt Joseph Lundy, Karen Manriquez, Thomas J. Marguglio, Andy Martinez, Ashley Brittany Martinez, Fabian Martinez, Gabriela Martinez, Guillermo E. Martinez, Jacquelin Martinez, Jose DeJesus Martinez, Monserrat Martinez, Sheree Mason, Katlynn Mathis, Stephanie Mathis, Benjamin J. Mattson, Quameen Mayes, Davon McClendon, Naamah S. McKibben, Tyrell McNair, Brandon Mendieta, Emmanuel Mercado, Christian Miguel, Juan Miguel, Michael Miletta, Damary Munoz, Aaron Nichols, Radames Nunez, Luis A. Pacheco, Joshua Parrales, Eleazar Perez, Estela Perez, Evon Perez, Jennifer Aurora Perez, Maricela Perez, Marisol Perez-Cruz, Tyra L. Pierce, Tyrel Jamar Pierce, Gary Pollard, Dulce A. Priciliano, Kelly Prost, Hikeem T. Pruitt, Autumn Rainner, Olajuwon Rainner, Frank A. Ramirez, Martin Ramirez, Rogelio Ramirez, Amado O. Ramos, Javier Ramos, Brandin J. Reggio, Byron Resto, Flora Genivive Reyes, Magali Reyes, Shatera Patrice Rivers, Joseph Robinson, Shakira Robinson, Nicole Robles, Enrique Rodriguez, Mauricio Rojas Espinoza, Livier Romero, Phillip Rugenus, Ramon Rondell Ruiz, Eddie S. Russell Sabas Salgado, Michael Darryl Sanders Jr., Kimberly Santana, Cristobal Isaac Santiago, Ricardo Santiago, Marguerite Scarlato, Brittany Elisabeth Scates, Lakeisha Seals, Tyron Shaw, Margaret Sheppard, Carissa Elizabeth Simonini, Caleb J. Small, Brian Smith, Abigail Sosa, Kenlly J. Soto-Balbuena, Shanaze Spann, Shane Elliot Sparks, Briana Spells, Aaron Scott Spigelmoyer, Shaquara Monique Steward, Shameka Stocks, Kenon T. Street, Bartae C. Stubbs, Rakeem Stubbs, Shawnee E. Suttle, Katelyn Sutton, Alisha Taylor, Caleb Tryka Taylor, Krystal Thomas, Marvin A. Thomas, Annalyse Elisabeth Torres, Irene Torres, Marcela Guadelupe Torres, Luis Vasquez, Jeanean R Wadley, George W Walker, Tafhema Walker, Sheara Wallace, Hayden W Weigel, Rayshon Wharton, Avery D Williams, Charmaine Williams, Latia S. Williams, Rodney K. Williams, T'Keyha M. Williams, Katelynn J. Wilson, Norman Woody, Kristorpher D. Wright, Kristen R. Yeager, Michael Young, Steven L. Ziglar.
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.
Top Bridgeton High School graduates
Kenon Street
Rank: 1
Bridgeton
Major: Accounting/finance
College: Fordham University, N.Y.
Philip Blizzard
Rank: 2
Bridgeton
Major: Computer science
College: Monmouth University
Margaret Sheppard
Rank: 3
Cedarville
Major: Graphic design
College: Southern New Hampshire University
Diana Flores
Rank: 4
Bridgeton
Major: Geology
College: Montclair State University, N.J.
Krystal Thomas
Rank: 5
Bridgeton
Major: Pharmacy
College: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Posted in Cumberland on Wednesday, June 24, 2009 11:20 pm Updated: 10:29 am.
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