Around 470 students of the North Bergen High School class of 2010 will graduate on Friday, June 25 at 10:30 a.m.
“Well, going to high school is basically just growing up,” said valedictorian Raider Alvarez last week. “[In] elementary school you just go to school … because you have to. At the end of high school I realized, you’re not going to high school because you have to; you want to accomplish your goals in life.”
“I realized you’re not going to high school because you have to; you want to accomplish your goals in life.” – Raider Alvarez
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“Being a salutatorian, not only as a girl but as a Hispanic, it just overwhelms me with dignity and pride.” – Brenda Argueta
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culture of success
Tennaro said that one of the reasons students were so successful was the culture of the high school. Most of the students’ families had to immigrate and struggle for their children’s education. He is proud that this school, where many students speak English as a second language, is able to do so well every year.
“Looking back on growing up, I never thought that I would have been in this place, just because I am a first generation student of my family,” said salutatorian Brenda Argueta last week. “I think it is amazing. I don’t think words can explain it. Being a salutatorian, not only as a girl but as a Hispanic, it just overwhelms me with dignity and pride.”
Argueta has received $51,350 in financial aid for Syracuse University. She will combine this with the $1,500 in private scholarships she was given. She plans to study biomedical engineering. She was involved with the junior varsity softball team, soccer and indoor track, as well as the Health Core, French, and Future Educators of America clubs.
Alvarez said being chosen as the valedictorian was an honor. He will attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick and plans to pursue a business degree. During high school he was the vice president of the Student Council, the secretary of the math club, and a tutor during his free time.
To help people
Other seniors shared their future goals.
Evelyn Pereira said that she has always wanted to help people. “My mother is sick and I’ve always been in an out of hospitals with her, and that alone has given me an interest in medicine,” said Pereira.
Pereira will attend the College of New Jersey and plans to major in biology. She would like to work as a trauma surgeon.
Maria Claros is upset that she is leaving her alma mater, but is excited to start her pre-medical major at Seton Hall University, where she received $27,000 in financial aid.
Claros, a varsity basketball player, said that the sports made her high school experience memorable.
Nilam Patel said she will most likely study pre-medicine at Rutgers University in September, but she also has an interest in engineering.
“I think this was actually a really good school,” said Patel. “I enjoyed my time here.”
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.
High achievers at High Tech
According to the director of High Tech High School, Dr. Joseph Giammarella, 146 seniors will graduate from the competitive countywide school this year.
He said that all of the students, with the exception of two who will go directly into the workforce, will attend two or four-year colleges.
“I would say that probably 65 percent of the graduates are attending extremely competitive colleges, [like] Boston University and New York University,” said Giammarella.
Eight students will attend Ivy League colleges.
Sean Jahanfar of Bayonne and Stephanie Guzman were accepted to Cornell University. Jersey City residents Riana Balahadia, Anna Blazejowskyj and, Sameer Chauhan were accepted to Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively. Erika Rios of Harrison was accepted to Princeton University, while Secaucus residents Tomas Paneque and Neil Parekh received acceptance letters from Columbia and Cornell universities.
Giammarella said that they did not yet know how much financial aid the senior class had earned as a whole, but that in years past it normally was well over $1 million.
He said students have done exceptionally well in testing.
“For me to say anything would just diminish their performance as a whole,” said Giammarella. “I would sincerely think their acceptances, the amount of scholarship money they received, and their cohesiveness as a group speak for themselves.”