By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
HINSDALE — Twenty-eight seniors graduated during commencement exercises at Hinsdale Central School Friday night.
Senior Class President Braedyn Kenjockety gave the invocation and welcome.
Peyton Keller and Emily Hoover sang the Alma Mater.
In his valedictory address, Tyler Richards thanked his parents, all the teachers who helped him throughout his years at school and Jesus Christ “for giving me the strength and purpose to keep moving forward, even when things were difficult.”
He said, “Becoming valedictorian has been a goal of mine for a long time. Not because I expected it to be easy, and definitely not because I wanted to stand here and talk about myself — but because l’ve always believed in working hard, doing things the right way, and pushing myself to meet the standard I knew I was capable of.”
Tyler used a bridge metaphor that came to him in Pittsburgh — a city with 446 bridges — on their senior trip
“High school,” he said, “really is like a bridge. It connects where we came from to where we’re going. It helped us grow from kids into young adults. And just like those bridges in Pittsburgh – each one of us took a different route. Some paths were smooth, others felt shaky. Some days we moved forward with confidence, and others we crossed with uncertainty. But every step mattered and we made it.”
He added: “And to the Class of 2025, we made it. We’ve grown up in these halls, made friendships we’ll never forget, and walked through some unforgettable moments. Now, we’re heading in different directions, college, the military, careers, or paths still taking shape, but no matter where we go, we’ll carry these experiences with us.
Congratulations, Class of 2025. We’ve crossed the bridge and now the road is wide open.”
Salutatorian Peyton Keller thanked his parents and teachers. To her parents, he said, “While I literally could not be here without you, I would not have been able to get this far without your loving support and wisdom. You have given me everything I need and more to succeed.”
He used a mountain climbing metaphor to describe the similarities of a hiking club trip to the Adirondacks and high school.
“The first part of the hike; walking to the mountain, its pretty easy. You’re optimistic, a little nervous, a little excited, but its not too bad. That’s like freshman year.
Then it gets a little steeper, a little tougher, you start to break a sweat, just like sophomore year. And then its hell; Junior year. The last stretch to the top. Jumping over rivers and boulders, super steep incline. The toughest year, when your workload is tough and you start visiting colleges. You grow so much in that one year.
But then finally, you’ve made it to the top: Senior year. 4,000 feet later, you have conquered the mountain. And now you have to go back down. As you’re heading down, you start thinking ahead. What mountain am I going to climb next? What’s my next journey?”
He concluded: “That’s where my classmates and I are right now.Coming down the mountain, finished high school, about to embark on our next journey. Whether that journey is college, becoming a marine, entering the workforce, or starting your own business, we are all about to embark on another great adventure.”
Board of Education President Nancy Hurlburt and District Superintendent Tiffany Giannicchi presented diplomas to the graduates.
The Hinsdale Central School Class of 2025 graduates are:
Alivia Amanda Marie Bloomfield, Ethan William Chapman, Analia Grace DeGroff, Brooklyn Rose Deibler, Sarah Aileen Easterly, Caleb Michael Elliott, Kaylie Rhianne Foskit, Dana Alan Ginnery, Daphne Marie Gobien, Cody Cortez Hand, Tessa McKay Higgins, Emily Rose Hover, Peyton Allen Keller, Braedyn Daniel Kenjockety.
Aubrey Jo Lauber, Kyle Benjamin Pease, Marilyn Rose Prince, Timothy Richard Ribble Jr., Tyler Anthony Richards, Alexa Marie Saunders, George Clifton See III, Makaya Brooklynne Stayer, Jenna Lynn Sutton, Landin Stephen Taylor, Jeffrey James Wright Jr., and Josiah Timothy Dean Wyant.
Awards & Scholarships were presented by Giannicchi and Interim Principal Charles Liechner. They include:
Analia DeGroff — Lee Gaylor Memorial Award,
SUNY Alfred State Scholarship – $3,750 per year.
Brooklyn Deibler — Burt Scholarship – $1,250,
John J. Murphy Family Scholarship – $10,000,
Betty Pappas Scholarship – $800, Academic Excellence Scholarship – $500, RIT Tiger Pride Award – $22,000 per year.
Kaylie Foskit — Jack Gaeta “How You Play The Game” Memorial Award, SUNY Oswego Scholarship – $24,000.
Daphne Gobien — Scholastic Excellence Award – $200, Gregory D. Spring Perseverance Scholarship – $500, Jonathan Teuscher Scholarship – $2,500, Alfred University Scholarship – $20,000 per year.
Emily Hover — Carol Poe Model Senior Award – $1,000.
Peyton Keller — Outstanding Honor Society Member Award, Ideal Bobcat Award – $215, Competitor Award,
Academic Excellence Scholarship – $500, St. Bonaventure University Presidents Scholarship – $104,000.
Braedyn Kenjockety — Alfred State Scholarship – $108,000.
Marilyn Prince — Bruce Hamed Memorial Award – $100.
Tyler Richards — James Mascho Memorial Award,
Distinguished Service Award – $200, Scholar Athlete Award – $200, Thomas K. Oakley Memorial Basketball Award, Christian Award – $350, Elodine Swarts Baxter and Lena Conrad Swarts Memorial Scholarship – $1,500,
Hinsdale Alumni Association Memorial Scholarship – $1,500, Academic Excellence Scholarship – $1,500,
Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department Scholarship – $500,
St. Bonaventure University President’s Scholarship – $104,000.
Alexa Saunders — Hinsdale Alumni Association Memorial Scholarship – $1,500, Cuba Lions Club Scholarship – $500.
Jenna Sutton — Cutco Scholarship – $8,000, Sons of the American Legion Scholarship – $1,000, Jamestown Community College Scholarship – $2,000 per year.
“The Hinsdale Central School Class of 2025 students, attending post-secondary schools, have been awarded over $499,315.00 in college and university grants, awards, and scholarships,” Giannicchi announced. “Congratulations to the students on this well-earned achievement!”
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All Rights Reserved. Eric M. Firkel. Star News LLC.
