Approximately 420 high school seniors will celebrate their graduation from Memorial High School in West New York this coming Tuesday, June 22 at 6 p.m.
The ceremony, scheduled to take place in the West New York Middle School gymnasium, will represent the culmination of years of hard work and memories as well as the beginning of the next chapter in life.
“I hope that everyone leaves with some plan in mind,” said Memorial High School Principal Robert Sanchez last week.
Sanchez said that although college may not be the choice for everyone, the staff at the high school strives to instill the belief that anyone can go to college if they choose to do so, and also does everything possible to prepare students for whatever they want to do next.
“I hope that everyone leaves with some plan in mind.” – Robert Sanchez
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Among the college attendees are valedictorian Beatriz Cuevas, who will attend Columbia in New York City, and salutatorian Santiago Bustamante, who will attend Rutgers University.
Award winning students
After final exams finished, students celebrated their academic achievements with their annual awards ceremony this past Monday.
Sanchez said that the ceremony, planned and facilitated by Assistant Principal Gene Pagnozzi, provides students with a great amount of financial aid through scholarships, though he was unsure of the exact amount.
The achievements of the Class of 2010 aren’t just restricted to academics. Sanchez said that students throughout Memorial High School are known for their philanthropy. Community service isn’t mandated at the school, but the students always put service first and foremost on their agendas on their own.
“There [are] always a lot of positive things that go on in the school,” said Sanchez. “Here at Memorial we consider ourselves a family.”
The family mentality and popularity of helping others at Memorial High School can be seen in groups such as the student philanthropy organization “My Outreach Mission,” known around the school as “MOMS,” which has drawn nearly 300 student members in just two years.
Jose Pozo, the president of MOMS, received the Principals’ Leadership Award at the awards ceremony. The award is presented to a student who symbolizes humanitarian spirit and inspires his or her fellow students.
Pozo, who also participated on the track and bowling teams at school, said that his career choice was partially influenced by his participation in MOMS and his volunteer work at the Franciscan Community Development Center in Fairview.
Though he was interested in becoming a police officer since eighth grade, he now hopes that a career as a detective, possibly with the FBI, will help him help the community.
“I think more people will listen to the law,” he said. “So I’ll be more of an asset to the community like that.”
Pozo is headed to Kean University to study criminal justice in the fall. After two years he hopes to transfer to John Jay College to study forensic science.
“I’m excited,” he said, adding that though he’s nervous about the next step of independence, he’s really looking forward to college. “I’m not even thinking about summer.”
Award winning school
Earlier this week, Alliance for a Healthier Generation (the national organization founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation) announced that Memorial High School was the first and only school so far to earn a Gold National Recognition Award from the Healthy Schools Program for making the campus healthier for students and staff.
Additionally, Sanchez said that the Memorial High School Class of 2010 is the first graduating class in which every member is CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certified.
“We piloted a program through health and physical education courses where each senior was given the opportunity to get certified,” he said. “They all have their cards.”
Sanchez said that student health wellness is at the forefront of Memorial High School and there are many programs for staff and students alike.
“A big part of it is the students and staff doing it together,” said Sanchez. “I think it’s important that the students see the adult members of their community [participating].”
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.