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Speeches prompt boos at Vineland's graduation
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VINELAND - Vineland High School's top two students excoriated the school administration with critical commencement speeches Thursday that shocked graduates and thousands of spectators.
In a graduation replete with cheers, boos, screams, honking horns and occasionally wild celebration, Ivy League-bound valedictorian Paul Cohen and salutatorian Brandon Tomasso stunned many by mixing their lighthearted and clearly uncensored speeches with harsh remarks about the administration.
Cohen, who will attend Yale University in the fall, offered his speech to "all the teachers who didn't teach" and "all the administrators and Board of Education members who did not think about the students before they made decisions." Tomasso, bound for Brown University, called graduation "our day of liberation."
"If there's a problem and you don't know the answer," Cohen said during his speech, "make up the answer and learn about the consequences later. Thank you to the school administration for teaching us this. Small learning communities suck. Thank you to the school administration for teaching us this."
The speeches came only after Cohen and Tomasso learned they would not be allowed to speak at the ceremony, ostensibly because it could rain at any moment. (The event was held outdoors at Gittone Memorial Stadium. By the time it rained, the ceremony had ended.) Cohen walked to the microphone and said he had earned the right to speak; graduates and guests began chanting and stomping in support. School officials then let the two give their speeches. By then, the two were "angry" because school officials "took our dignity" by trying to censor them and limit the length of their speeches, Tomasso said.
Both speakers cut their remarks short after many fellow graduates and much of the crowd began booing and calling for them to finish. Senior class President Chasite Palmer apologized for the speeches, drawing strong applause from graduates and their families.
Afterward, the more than 650 graduates celebrated. Many hugged, kissed, cheered, yelled and honked horns as they drove through downtown.
But many also were talking about Cohen and Tomasso.
"My entire class is mortified," graduate Sheyda Karvar said. "Every single person I've talked to is upset."
"It was the worst graduation in the world," said Danielle Owens, another graduate.
Some graduates were angry with Cohen and Tomasso. Others said the two may have gone overboard but said things that needed saying, such as Cohen's critique of "small learning communities," in which students from four grades are combined into classes that focus on one broad subject area, and Tomasso's anger over many school restrictions, such as being escorted to bathrooms by security guards.
"It was an embarrassment, but they had it coming," said Patrick Connelly, another graduate.
"Maybe it got a little out of hand, but he deserved to make his speech," said Gina Rodolfo, a friend of Cohen's.
School officials were muted in their response. They simply went about the business of running graduation, choosing not to cut short the speeches or even comment on specific remarks. The closest any came was Superintendent Charles "Chalky" Ottinger, who was overseeing his last graduation before his early retirement from a job he called one of his least favorites in May. The reserved Ottinger, sounding almost sad, paraphrased a quote by the poet Maya Angelou:
"People won't remember what you said, and they won't remember what you did. But they'll always remember how you made them feel."
The graduates are:
Alexandria M. Abreu, Emanuel Acosta, Justin E.Acosta, Kayla Lee Acosta, Josue M. Adorno, Nicole Leigh Abandon, Hannah Eve Ahrens, Lauren Ashley Alicea, Samantha Alicea, Jean Carlos Almestica, Daiana Nataly Alvarez, Daniel Michael Alvarez, Janice Marie Alvarez, Jelissa Alvarez, Zanih Ginesa Alvarez, Deanna Marie Alvino, Andrew Wade Anastor, Jessica Autumn Andreoli, Yezenia Gladys Andujar, Nelson Aponte, Yisell Mary Aquino, Jaclyn Arbona, Celil Ardahan, Kaitlynn Marie Arena, Jennifer Arocho, Kristin Lynn Arocho, Ramon Vincent Arocho, Jessica Marie Arsenault, Omir Mutesa Artis, Amanda Marie Asselta, Leigh A. Auger, Damaris Avila, Gilberto Aviles, Jr., Matthew Phillip Aviles, John Anthony Ayala, Massiel N. Azcona, Elvira I. Babenko, Jasmine Luz Baez, Jesus Baez, Jovan Bailey, Rebecka Katherine Ballentine, Nicholas P. Banko, Shane Allen Barber, Sara Lin Baruffi, Gregory Batie, Isiah Battle, Jasmine A. Beatty, Christopher Bell-Santana, Alicia DyShawn Bennett, Quawlee Lamar Bennett, Troy M. Bennie, Maria Lynn Berezin, Taylor Lauren Berger, Sergio Bermudez, Sarah Lindsey Bernhardt, John Nicholas Bertonazzi, Kimberly L. Beu, James E. Bishop, III, Justin B. Blount, Christian J. Bock, Brian Christopher Bond, Jamal R. Boozer, Phallon J. Bordley, Amanda Borrero, Michael Ruben Borrero, Alexandra Marie Bossi, Avery Ke-Was-Kum Bowen, David Anthony Boyd, Michael Ronald Boyer, Erika A. Briones, Aiyanna Gaila Brown, Ashlee Taylor Brown, Briana Nicole Brown, Channing Stephen Brown, Darell Otis Brown, Janice Faye Brown, Meghan Ann Brown, Sylvia Michelle Brown, Vaunique R. Brown, Rebecca Burgos, Iris Shoray Burnett, Kaitlin Karla Burns, Shanae M. Burt, Drew William Bushek, Alexander Maurice Byrd, Marya Cabatingan, Michael Anthony Cales, Ezequiel A. Camara, Jason Candelaria, Courtney Michelle Cannon, Michel Cano, Sorali Caraballo, Anthony Toomy Carei, Fernando Carney, Robert J. Carpenter, Juan Jose Cartagena, Christopher G. Castellini, Timothy James Castellini, Veronica Natalie Castilla, Nicole Castro, Carla Elaine Catrambone, Ariel Jasmine Rene Ceasar, Lizbeth Marie Centeno, Nicholas Michael Cerione, Johnathan Chanza, Carl Cheeseman, Carli Anne Cherwien, Andrea Colleen Chieffo, Matthew Claire, Hakim Clark, Matilda E. Clark, Shanell Nicole Clark, Chandler Anthony Clarke, Denae Lashae Clarke, Chelsea Mariah Clay, Ashley Monique Clements, Jerome M. Clements, Jr., Alicea Nichole Clendaniel, Alicia Nicole Clendaniel, Jeremy Alexander Clifford, Paul Michael Cohen, Selina Marie Cohen, Jerry Wayne Coker, Carlos Quantrell Clayton Cole, Jr., Ariel Jesus Colon, Cassandra Rivera Colon, Gilbert Colon, Jr., Jalissa Deanna Colon, Lisa Marie Colon, Zuleika Colon, Patrick Jules Connelly, Molly O. Cook, Jaquan Lamont Cooper, Enrique Cordero, Jr., Yamiel A. Cordero, Dwight Corniell, Estefani Corona, Yocelyn I. Cortes, Angel L. Cosme, Jr., Joshua Franklin Cossaboon, Amanda Lynn Creech, Clinton Crowell, Francisco Cruz, Gabrielle Leigh Cruz, Jessica A. Cruz, Jonathan Cruz, Joshua Cruz, Judith Cruz, Melanie Cruz, Christopher Cuba, Khaleed R. Curry, Kevin Peter Curtis, , George Alexandre Dampeer, Lauren Kelly Daplyn, Frank J. Dastolfo, Ralph Thomas Dauito, Katlin B. Davis, Markedia Davis, Kayla Diana Dayton, Joshua Warren Dean, Robert DeAngelis, Shannon Marie DeAngelis, Jason M. Degand, Amarilis DeJesus, Blanca I. Delgado, Sean S. DeLoach, Denise Delvalle, Maxwell Anthony D'Emilio, Thomas Denby, Daniel John Deola, IV, Chelsea N. Derby, Warren John Devonshire, Jomarie Enid Diaz, Michael Anthony DiSalvia, Kenneth M. Donnelly, Peter Anthony Doulis, Richard Joseph Downey, Tia Mercedes Drew, Pierre John Dreyer, Vyacheslav Drozd, Victoria Caroline Druziako, Glendon Durham, Vanessa Samantha Dwyer, Jessica Renee Dzindzio, , Stephanie Joann Echevarria, Kristen Marie Edgerton, Alyssa Edwards, Brittney Nichole Elbertson, Victoria Marie Epp, Justin Andrew Escobar, , Joseph Michael Fairman, Nayalee Falcon, Jonathan Fanelli, Frank Ryan Farside, Michael Anthony Farside, Jr., Jose Jordano Fernandez, Pablo N. Fernandez, Rachel Ann Ferrari, Vincent Edo Filippi, Giovanni Anthony Finazzo, Alexandria Marangely Flores, Annamarie Flores, Jacqueline Naomi Flores, Jeanine Nichole Flores, Roberto Flores-Santana, Tressa Victoria Fonseca, Kyle Ryan Forcinito, Nicholas Anthony Foschi, Malcolm Nagee Foster, Christopher D. Garcia, Katherine Renee Garcia, Jacqueline R. Giannakaris, Alexis Faye Giannini, Megan E. Gilroy, Jessica Marie Girtain, Luis Felipe Gomez, Yimelis Gomez, Alexcia Gonzalez, Ashley Rose Marie Gonzalez, Brianna Lynn Gonzalez, Carmelo Gonzalez, Jose Antonio Gonzalez, Jr., Joseph Gonzalez, Ryan Gonzalez, Stacy Lee Gonzalez, Andrew Thomas Goode, Amirah Nicole Gould, Scott Daniel Graiff, Dominique Lashawn Greer, Christian Don'A Griffin, Zachary Hunter Griffin, Natalie Ann Gross, Maciej W. Grudzien, Anabel Guadarrama, Nicholas Ryan Gundaker, Natasha Marie Guzman, Yazkalee Maria Guzman, Jessica L. Gyles, , Jillian Marie Hair, Courtney Renee Hamilton, Andrea Y. Handy, Quantaya La'Shawn Harold, Charity Alexandrea Harris, Danasia Harris-Parker, Raymond Thomas Harris, Amanda Lynn Hartje, Daniel James Hayes, Walter Sebastian Hayes, Joshua Robert Headley, Laura Elizabeth Heller, Carlos Ivan Hernandez, Cecilia Hernandez, Denisse Hernandez, Joel Hernandez, Joshua Hernandez, Juan Carlos Hernandez, Frank Higman, II, Louis M. Hills, Pak Lam Ho, Kevin A. Hobson, Jr., David Lee Hofflinger, Jessica Nickole Holiday, James Deon Holland, Brittany Morgan Howell, Ineza Emma Marie Hughes, , Sabrina Marie Iglesias, Christina Irene Isihos, , Kimberly Ann Jackson, Anthony Phillip James, Jonathan Michael Jamison, Luis Miguel Jarquin, Brittany Jean Jessie, Maritza A. Jimenez, Rebecca Jimenez, David Lester Johnson, Donald Johnson, Erik Jordan Johnson, Kahla C. Johnson, Lauren Elizabeth Johnson, Aleashio Leonard Lee Jones, Hans Daniel Jones, III, Kendra Tonette Jones, Lester Danell Jones, Marissa Jenette Jones, Julio Alberto Jordan, Emanuel A. Juarez, Rosa Maria Juarez, , Michael Anthony Kalowitz, Asli Karakaya, Sergey Karpenko, Sheyda Karvar, Katherine Elizabeth Karwowski, Samuel Wesley Kaslon, Laura Brooke Kaspar, Tracy Lynn Kelly, Michael J. Kenney, Samuel E. Kerusenko, Dakota Bradley Kielbasa, David James King, Amber Marie Koebernik, Daniel Joseph Kreck, Robert Daniel Kuzmicz, , Idney Maria Langston, Robert J. Lashley, III, Michael J. Lathberry, Alysa Victoria Layton, Emilie Lebron, Kiasha Shanae Lecator, Natasha T. Lee, Shamikia Lynn Lewis, Stanley Dontae Lewis, Michael John Leyva, Ciara C. Lillia, Ashley Nicole Llabres, Maia Eden Lods, Daniel Lee Lopez, Evan Miguel Lopez, Frankie Lopez, Jr. , Javier Lopez, Jeffrey Lopez, Jerryanette Lopez, Jocyline Ashley Lopez, Omar Lopez, Raymond Anthony Lopez, Chelsea Elisabeth Lorence, Alyson Nicole Luciano, Luis Xavier Lugo, David Lunsford, II, Sierra D. Luster, Shannon Cheri Madgey, Francesca Mainiero, Jasmin Marie Maldonado, Reinaldo Maldonado, Jr., Roberto Anibal Maldonado, Sasha C. Malloy, Meisha-gaye Kevena Manning, Michelle Lillian Manson, Christopher Alfonso Marcelino, Nicholas Gennaro Marino, Javier Marrero, Matthew C. Marrero, Marquitta Sherria Martin, Iraida Ivette Martinez, Jocelyn Martinez, Victoria Martinez, Nuno Matias Coimbra Martins, Raymond Mass, Patrick Dominic Massaro, Yamil O. Matos, Yarilyn Matos, Marcus Stephans Mattioli, Joseph Dominic Maurice, Marrisa T. Maven, John J. Mayville, Morgan McLemore, Katherine Lynn Medina, Miguel Angel Mejia-Galvan, Jorge Mejias, Jr., Erika Marie Melendez, Naiomi Marie Mendez, Juan Mensing-Alvarado, Alexsii Javier Mercado, Carlos Daniel Mercado, Diana L. Mercado, Rafmelkis O. Metz, Jennifer Lynn Miller, Joshua Miller, LeAnne Marie Miller, Sean Mark Miller, Shaniqua Renee Miller, Kathy Marie Mojica, Alexandra Catherine Molina, Zachary M. Molisee, Cynthia A. Momoh, Cassandra Marie Montalvo, Jan Montalvo, Raquel R. Montalvo, Xavier Montanez, Hanais Montero, Christian Lee Moore, Raheem Jamal Abdul Moore, Sharee Moore-Pierre, Ezequiel Morales, Helen Morales, Mauricio Agustin Moran-Rios, Jr., Robert Moroz, Dana Lynne Mosley, Brianna J. Moye, Amanda Lee Muniz, Jasmine Iris Muniz, , Joseph Angelo Napoli, Amanda Nash, Gerardo J. Navarro-Ramos, Inna A. Nechay, Brittany LeShay Nellom, William Zachary Nichols, Elisabeth Nuhfer, Jonatan Nunez, , Jasmine Ocasio, Leonard Oglesby, III, Michael Alcide Oliva, Richard M. Oliva, Alexander Francis Oilver, Carlos Ortiz, Jenyfer Andrea Ortiz, Jordan Edward Ortiz-Wolff, Jose R. Ortiz, Jr., Rebekah Ortiz, Tasira Dominque Ortiz, Victor Anthony Otero, Victoria Iris Otero, Danielle Marie Owens, David Harry Owens, , Christian Padilla, Chasite Evelyn Palmer, Willie A. Palmer, Amanda Lee Pando, Brittney Lynn Pantelione, David Anthony Parisi, Anthony Parker, Robert L. Parker, Dana Marie Parks, Abhijit Kiritkumar Parmar, Mandeep Singh Parmar, Reema Vinay Patel, Jose Paz, John Gerald Pearson, Amanda Nichole Pedersen, Scott K. Pedersen, Kayla Dawn Pelosi, Alicia Nicole Perez, Christopher Daniel Perez, David Diego Perez, Edith E. Perez, Ernesto Perez, Jr., Hector J. Perez, Jillian Leigh Perez, Jorden Luiz Perez, Krystal Lee Perez-Rodriguez, Marcos Perez, Michael Abel Perez, Corey Andrew Petit, Jaclyn Petit, Janelle Petit, Krystal Lynn Pettek, Mia Peyton, Tara E. Phillips, Hannah J. Piatt, Amber N. Pierce, Jeffrey Pierre, Alex Barrett Place, Thomas D. Platt, Johnathan Polanco, Richard Jarred Porreca, Javon C. Porter, Michael Anthony Pratt, Kelsey B. Price, Jordon Anthony Pritchett, James Scott Prospero, Sonal Puri, Angel Quiles, Herminio Quinones, , Amber Lynn Rahn, Erubiel Ramirez, Elizabeth Ramos, Joshua Ramos, Oliver Edgardo Ramos, Shanique J. Ramos, Willow Ravell, Colin Rawls, Matthew Steven Rayford, Rebecca Sue Redel, Justin A. Reimels, Nicholas Anthony Repp, Brizehida Marlene Reyes, Gabriel Daniel Reyes, Israel Reyes, Jazcelyn Abril Reyes, Marily Reyes, Valeria Marie Reyes, Zuleyka Reyes, Daniel Rhodes, Miguel Angel Ribot, Jr., Gabrielle Lianna Riccardo, Gina Marie Ridolfo, Lauren Paije Riley, Elisabet Debora Rios, Ismael Rios, Alexander Rivera, Ashley Ivette Rivera, Christopher Rivera, Desiree Rivera, Elle Raven Rivera, Jacquelyn Cleo Rivera, Janean Rivera, Jeanette Victoria Rivera, Lisbeth Marie Rivera, Liz Marie Rivera, Moises Rivera, Porsha Elizabeth Rivera, Sarong Rivera, Wendy Lira Rivera, Jamar Maurice Rivers, Tatiana A. Roberts, Jasmin Mercedez Robinson, Vannessa L. Robinson, Richard Robles, Andre Solomon Rodgers, Candido Rodriguez, Jr., Carlos Rodriguez, Christal Lynn Rodriguez, Christina Angelica Rodriguez, Claudio Rodriguez, Efrain J. Rodriguez, Isamar Rodriguez, Jessica Renee Rodriguez, Joel Rodriguez, Linda Shanell Rodriguez, Luz Normary Rodriguez, Ricky Rodriguez, Joshua Jamar Rogers, Ana Maria Roman, Timothy Philip Romer, Michael Christopher Romero, Jenise Marie Rosa, Anthony Rosado, Giovanni Aries Rosado, Mathew Rosado, Nina Raquel Rosario, Ricardo S. Rosario, Michael Jared Roslatov, Tifanie C. Rostien, Nicholas Harry Rothman, Amanda Elizabeth Rowe, Ariel Ruiz, Christine Ruiz, , Kelly Rene Sainson, Liliya Sakhan, Angelica Sanchez, Justin Mathew Sanchez, Michael Angel Sanchez, Ly-Ann Enid Santa, Anibal Santiago, II, Antonio Jose Santiago, Chad Julian Santiago, Freddy Santiago, Jr., Luis A. Santiago, Marianna Jasmine Santiago, Sandy Paula Santiago, Yaritza I. Santiago, Angel Luis Santos, III, Arnaldo Jose Santos, Louis Giovanni Santos, Darryl John Saull, Melanie Nicole Schaffer, Joshua Scott, Kayry Segarra, Breana D. Sept, Victor Manuel Serrano, Jr., Rabia Yasmin Shaikh, Matthew Ives Shaud-Gentry, Stephanie Shaw, Viktoriya Shcherbyna, Diana Leontievna Shubrat, Valentin V. Shulzhenko, Harjit Singh, Harpreet Singh, Jatinder Singh, Shamika Shantell Slater, Joseph Ananais Smalley, Kristel Norene Smiley, Alexandra Leigh Smith, Andrea Nicole Smith, Derek Allan Smith, Dillon Zachary Smith, Jaszmene Smith, Jessica Ryan Smith, Michael G. Smith, III, Matthew A. Snyder, Janet Sosa, Kenneth Soto, Kimberly Lynn Speranza, Tiffany Staas, Victoria Carol Staas, Christopher Ryan Stenger, Marcus Stratton, Chad L. Stuart, Glenn L. Stulz, Jr., Erika Lynn Suda, Brianna Surrency, William Theodore Sykes, II, William M. Szabo, Amber Nicole Taylor, Shenequa D. Taylor, Yasmin Taylor, Mustafa A. Telfair, Leonel E. Thomas, Branden Wesley Thompson, Jeremy Courtez Thompson, Steven Tirado, Brandon Delmore Tomasso, Anthony Tonetta, Giselle Torres, Neyshadaly Torres, Samantha Torres, Wildelia Torres, Scott Theodore Traina, Christina Marie Trasferini, Adrian D. Tribbitt, Alyssa Marie Trovarelli, Kaitlyn M. Trovarelli, Kevin Truong, Jenille Avion Tyson, Sonaisa Tyson, , Joseph Francis Valcarce, Crystal Elaine Vargas, John Anthony Vargas, Michael Angel Vargas, Samantha Marie Vargas, Jonas Vasquez, Jy'Isha Lynn Vasquez, Maria Kathleen Vastano, Ivelisse Vazquez, Tatiana Marleen Vega, Angelica M. Velazquez, Destanie N. Velazquez, Janeirys Velazquez, Melissa Ashley Velazquez, Dagmabel Velez, Emily Elida Velez, Enid Velez, Jonathan C. Velez, Nivea N. Velez, Nicole B. Vena, Jessica Marie Vera, Priscilla Vera, Gina Mary Vernacchio, Natasha Marie Vicente, Stephanie Vicente-Nieves, Joshua William Villanueva, Vincent James Vita, Shannon Marea Vohringer, , Brigid Catherine Wallace, Samantha E. Wallace, Marcus Schyler Ware, Christen D. Waters, Mario Watford, Brett A. Watson, Christina Delaphine Watts, Kreshona Danae Waye, Ebony Princess Wells, Kyrstin Megan Wells, Monica Shonte Wesby, Mark Wheaton, Robert Whitaker, Eric L. Wiggins, Julia Anna Wilderman, Derrick D. Williams, Devin D. Williams, Ethan Hayes Williams, Rashad N. Williams, Christopher Jamiaz Willis, Chrystal Millara Winchester, Bazeil Tyrek Winters, Kayla C. Witt, Meghan Joelle Wolfe, Tyrell Dontae Womack, , Rebecca Rose Yearby, Nicole Lynn Zalinskie, Anthony E. Zayas, Kirsten Amanda Zieminski, Jennie Marie Zink, Joshua Zub.
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 Vineland High School graduates
Paul Cohen
Valedictorian
College: Yale University
Major: Economics, politics and ethics; cognitive science; or political science.
Brandon Tomasso
Salutatorian
College: Brown University
Major: International relations and Italian studies
Jessica Dzindzio
Rank: 3
College: Bible and ministry training school followed by four-year college
Major: Biochemistry/physics
Dana Parks
Rank: 4
College: St. Joseph's University
Major: Business-sports management/marketing
Victoria Druziako
Rank: 5
College: New York University
Major: Applied psychology
Posted in Cumberland on Friday, June 19, 2009 10:00 am Updated: 11:04 am.
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