AMENIA — Taking the first step toward living out into their future of wide possibilities were the 45 members of the graduating class of 2024 at their Commencement ceremony at Webutuck High School on Thursday, June 27.
A justifiable sense of pride in individual achievement was evident as well as the joy of sharing the experience with family, friends, and classmates. The weather, although breezy, was perfection for the event held under a huge tent filled to capacity. The sunset-lit view of the fields and hills to the east provided a breathtaking backdrop.
School Superintendent Raymond Castellani offered welcoming remarks, reminded of Aesop’s fable of the eagle and the crow, noting that the crow is the only species that dares to peck at an eagle. With the crow on his back pecking at his neck, the eagle ascends to a height where the air becomes too thin for the crow, ending the attack.
“Go higher to get better,” Castellani advised, urging the class to be like the eagle.
“Set goals that are beyond your reach,” said Principal Robert Knuschke, challenging the class to find something to be passionate about, something that will make the world better, and importantly, something sufficiently large that it might result in failure.
The Commencement address was delivered by Danielle Mollica, Executive Director of the Silo Ridge Community Foundation.
Mollica spoke of four virtues paving the path toward success: Honesty, Fairness, Strength and Wisdom.
“Embrace every chance to learn,” Mollica said, advising graduates not to fear failure.
“You are allowed to make mistakes,” said Salutatorian Amanda Intrieri advising the class to focus on the future, always moving forward.
Valedictorian Riley Morgan Thirlwall expressed gratitude to the school community.
“Always remember that the sky is the limit. This is just the beginning in all your stories,” Thirlwall said, urging the Class of 2024 to be prepared for challenges and embrace failures.
Following the speeches, diplomas were awarded by Principal Knuschke and Supt.Castellani.
Leila Hawken
Graduating seniors stepped briskly toward their seats at the 70th annual Commencement under a tent at Webutuck High School on Thursday, June 27.
Pine Plains teacher Jim Benincasa takes a parade lap.
Over the course of the school year, students build their car from parts supplied by Factory Five. They’re given assembly kits for one of a number of different roadster models. Pine Plains Racing built a Shelby Cobra.
On Saturday, cars from seven area schools were put to the test by professional drivers from the Dyson racing team. Pine Plains was joined by student crews from Owego, Arlington, John Jay, Ketcham, Dover and Roosevelt. All in all, nearly 250 students participated in the program. The cars are all street-legal, and are sold at auction. Pine Plains had already found a buyer before their car hit the track at Lime Rock.
“It takes a team to get a winning car to the track,” Mark Dougherty said. He’s the Build Director for the Winners Circle and travels to the participating schools to oversee and advise students on the project. “They’re trying to build a car, but we’re trying to build people.”
Students emerge from their custom-built racecars after taking a lap around a testing track at Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, Conn., on Tuesday, May 19.Madi Long
At the project’s outset, the high schoolers join either the build or marketing team. They’re responsible for the car’s construction and telling its visual story, respectively. That wide array of interests is essential to the program’s mission, said Winners Circle Program Director Matteo Lundgren. “There’s real collaboration, and that’s like the real world. I love empowering young minds to think for themselves,” said Lundgren. “So when my buddy Pius had an idea to bring the trades into high schools, in a way that wasn’t isolated just for gear heads, that was pretty cool.”
Pius Kayirra is the Executive Director of Winners Circle. “The program has morphed into so much more than we could have imagined,” he said. “One thing I’ve learned is that if you give kids opportunities, they will never let you down. That’s really what WCP is about — coming together and realizing we are a team with a unified goal. ”
Two students from Pine Plains, Jackson St. Bernard and Luke Blackburn, offered proof of Kayirra’s belief. “It’s a lot of problem solving and a lot of new skills,” said Blackburn. “I’ve never worked on a car with this kind of power.”
“I already had something of a background working with my dad in the garage,” added St. Bernard, “but I learned a lot about fabricating things. We made a couple of brackets for the overflow tubes in the car.”
For a full breakdown of the program and photos of the cars, visit winners-circle.org.
The car built by Pine Plains students sits and cools down after a hot afternoon of track testing on Tuesday, May 19, at Lime Rock Park in Lime Rock, Conn.Madi Long
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