Cheers, applause and howls broke out in the gymnasium when Karla Hernandez, a graduating Union Hill High School senior, entered her high school’s gymnasium for her graduation ceremony on June 24 during the choir’s rendition of the Jackson’s Five hit, I’ll Be There.
The approximately 250 Union City students graduating that day gave their classmate another standing ovation when her name was called to receive her diploma.
“I am just glad that she made it,” said Karla’s cousin, Leslie Hernandez, who also graduated from Union Hill High School last week. “It is hard to see her like this.”
According to Leslie, Karla has been out of school battling leukemia since May 15, and no one knew if she was going to be able to make the ceremony.
“We didn’t know until this morning if she was coming or not,” said Leslie, who will be attending New Jersey City University in January, where she applied together with her cousin.
The district’s other high school, Emerson High School, also graduated approximately 250 students on June 21 at a ceremony held inside their gymnasium.
It’s all over
Many of Union City’s graduating seniors were leaving their high schools with mixed feelings last week. The students were excited to be leaving high school to start a new adventure, but were still a little sad to have to leave their friends and old school behind.
“I am happy, but I am sad, too,” said Union Hill graduate Jennifer Riccardi after receiving her diploma. Riccardi will be taking a semester off before entering New Jersey City University in January. “I know there will be a lot of people that I am not going to see that I am used to seeing on a regular basis.”
Other students, like Leslie Hernandez, are confident that their friendships will survive even when high school is over.
“I know that my friends will always be there,” said Leslie Hernandez. “I made some good friendships.”
Union Hill Principal Robert Wendelken feels that this year’s senior class grew closer after the events of Sept. 11.
“Many of our students witnessed the event from their classrooms,” said Wendelken. “I think this brought us closer together as a class, especially the senior class. I think that their friendships became stronger.”
However, even though these students are leaving some of their friends and memories of high school behind, they are still happy to be graduating.
“I feel I worked hard for this,” said Riccardi. “I am proud.”
“I am happy. I can’t believe I made it, finally,” said Hernandez.
What a class
The principals in both schools agree that this year’s senior classes went beyond what was expected of them academically this year.
“This class distinguished itself very well academically,” said Wendelken. This year’s graduating class received more than $2 million in college scholarships and grants. “The students’ achievements speak for themselves,” he said.
Frank Scarafile, principal of Emerson High School, said that his senior class also improved their standardized test scores this year.
“This year is the first sign of progress in a while,” said Scarafile, adding that the seniors passed the writing section of the state-mandated High School Proficiency Test with a score of 87.5 percent, and that the reading and math scores are also higher. “”This is a credit to them.”
“We are making progress in a lot of different places,” said Emerson High School Principal Frank Scarafile about this year’s graduating class. Scarafile said that this year’s class had an increase in students attending college after graduation.