From the minute you walked into the auditorium at Weehawken High School for the 64th annual commencement exercises Thursday night, you could tell there was something different about this night compared to any other.
For the first time, the auditorium on graduation night wasn’t completely sweltering. Thanks to major renovations, there is now air conditioning, so those images of years past, with the loud, noisy fans trying to move around the humid air, are gone.
“In 28 years, I never wore the hat at graduation,” Weehawken Principal Dr. Peter Olivieri said, as he shifted a four-point cap that sat on his head. “I never wore it before because it was always too hot.”
But there were other differences besides the comfortable setting. There was an air of emotion that filled the room, unlike any other. Then, when the time came during the ceremony to remember four members of the school faculty and staff, namely teachers Thomas LaFronz and Annette Nunziato and custodians Luis Cabrera and Vincent DeCesare, who had passed away over the course of the last year, that’s when the emotions really kicked in.
Olivieri’s son, Guy, who is a professional singer and actor, and Kaitlyn Spinosa, the daughter of the district’s music director, Steve Spinosa, beautifully performed “You Raise Me Up,” recorded by pop favorite Josh Groban, while four members of the senior class each placed a single rose in a vase located in the center of the stage.
“We thought we would do something special to mourn the losses of our four friends,” Olivieri said. “We should rejoice that they are all free of their pain and sorrow. Guy was very fond of Ms. Nunziato and Kaitlyn called her ‘Aunt Annette.’ They wanted to do something to honor them. We thought the song was appropriate and it went over nicely. It wasn’t the highlight of the evening, but it was a way to celebrate their lives.”
When Guy Olivieri and Kaitlyn Spinosa were done with their duet, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The emotions just started to flow. Seniors were spotted on stage blotting their eyes. Parents in the audience were filled with joy and it was evidenced on their faces.
When awards were presented, like when beloved teacher’s aide Raye Ferullo gave out the memorial scholarship in honor of her late husband – former Councilman Lou Ferullo – to Michelle Phillips, the two embraced and cried together for over a minute.
“These kids were really close to each other,” Olivieri said. “They’re a close-knit bunch who stayed together for a lot of years. They’re an exceptional group of kids who all got along together so well. These kids loved their teachers and the two custodians.”
The 73 graduating seniors achieved much success, academically, athletically and in their extracurricular activities. In all, 26 students received some sort of a scholarship package to move on to college. Seven others received extensive financial aid by qualifying for the Economic Opportunity Fund program. Eight students were recipients of the Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Program. In all, more than $1.6 million in scholarships and grants were awarded to this single graduating class.
The football team earned a berth in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group I state playoffs, while the basketball team won the Bergen County Scholastic League National Division championship for the first time in eight years.
The school’s marching band represented itself well in the New Jersey State Drum and Bugle Corps competition last fall, and the school’s Academic Team won the Hudson County championship for the second straight year and qualified to compete in the national tournament in Washington, D.C. for the first time earlier this month.
“It’s just outstanding what this group has been able to achieve,” Olivieri said. “They were like a close-knit family. They were a top-notch group, a pleasure to be around and they will be sorely missed.”
Speeches
Samantha Pierre, the Class of 2004 valedictorian, earned several honors during the course of the evening, including the Economics award, the Music Award, the Social Science Award and the Academic Award, symbolic of being tops in her class. In her valedictory address, Pierre spoke about the relationships she made during her time in the Weehawken school district.
“How you treat one another, that’s what really matters,” said Pierre, who will attend Harvard University in the fall. “It’s all about relationships and respect.”
Jorge Janampa, a native of Peru who worked his way through the ranks to become No. 2 in the class, delivered the salutatory address. Janampa will attend Boston University in the fall.
“We should take time to reflect on our time together,” Janampa said in his speech. “Because it only happens once. All of our dreams can be achieved, regardless of the difficulty. The pursuit of your dreams should never be abandoned.”
Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner presented the Weehawken and You Civic Association awards to Danny Lopez and Desiree Romaguera.
“I can tell you from personal experience that this is one great graduating class,” Turner said. “We should all be proud of them and what they’ve achieved. This is the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people, from a dedicated Board of Education, to a faculty and administration that are second to none to the students who all work together to make the school year a success. They all excelled across the board.”