by Bea Peterson
The weather was perfect for the outside graduation at Hoosick Falls Central School on Friday evening, June 26. Interim Jr/Sr High School Principal Greg Chase opened the program with high praise for the students, faculty, administration, School Board and community it has been his privilege to work with for the last four months. Guest speaker Dr. Marcus Martinez spoke [private]
of his recent battle with cancer and thanked the basketball team for shaving their heads on his behalf. He advised the class to never take anything for granted, especially their health. He reminded them that they didn’t get to this point in their lives alone and that their family and friends will always be there when they need them. He advised them to think beyond today, learn all they can, travel the world and then come back and make this community a better place.
On Thursday at Awards Night John Liporace explained that after years of successful living in New York City he realized he couldn’t save the world and he remembered a quote that said then save your corner of the world. That was why 10 years ago he brought the JLS Foundation and its scholarships to his home town of Hoosick Falls. This year that program has expanded to include mentoring college students.
On Wednesday at Baccalaureate every clergy member of the Hoosick Area Church Association participated in the ceremony offering a contemporary program of music and video and reminding those students attending that they were never alone. Each one was given a small bible and a list of apps where words of comfort and encouragement were available at all times.
These three programs were the official wrap-up of high school for the Class of 2015. There will be countless parties in the weeks to come. The parties will end and they will be off to college, the Marine Corps, to jobs that will shape their future… to life. [/private]