Mother nature could not dampen the spirits of the 368 graduates of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School or their family members during the 50th Commencement Exercises. Gathered in the high school gymnasium, the students were surrounded by members of the Board of Education, administration, teachers, parents, and friends as they prepared to collect their high school diploma and move their tassels from left to right.
During the graduation ceremony the Class of 2009 was recognized for their many outstanding accomplishments, including being the largest graduating class and having earned the highest percentage of Regents diplomas. “Over the years, this class has become a family of students, teachers, and parents,” stated Principal Albert H. Voorneveld. “You’ve made us all proud in the classroom and on the field and we look forward to your future successes.” During his speech, Mr. Voorneveld took the opportunity to honor retiring Assistant Principal Theodore Bristol and the other high school retirees and wish them a long and happy retirement. A moment of silence was also held for the three members of the Class of 2009 who had passed away.
During the ceremony Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig, Board of Education President Brian J. Sales, Valedictorian Viet Khang Nguyen, Salutatorian Richard Pongvitayapanu, and Class Co-President Asia Drew addressed the crowd and offered their congratulations and words of advice and wisdom.“We are not the future,” said Asia, “we are the present. In a time of “yes, we can” and “yes, we will,” we are a generation of “yes, we are”…Yes, we are the Class of 2009.”
After Mr. Voorneveld conferred the last diploma, he presented the Class of 2009 and the elated graduates tossed their caps into the air while the cheers of family and friends could be heard in the background.
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