Hats off to the S.S. Seward Institute’s Class of 2013

FLORIDA — The huge tent on the great lawn of S.S. Seward Institute in the Village of Florida may have been intended to protect hundreds of guests from hot sun or rain but on Saturday morning, June 22, they also enjoyed picture perfect weather with mild temperatures and a gentle breeze.

Sixty-three graduates received their high school diplomas during the school’s 116th commencement. And 87 percent were Regents diplomas, many of which were with Honors or Advanced Regents.

S. S. Seward Institute is a secondary school in the Florida School District educating students in grades 6-12 from Florida and parts of Chester, Goshen and Warwick.

Although a memorial to Secretary of State William Henry Seward sits at the entrance to the school on Main Street, Seward is actually named after Samuel S. Seward, father of the famous Secretary of State, whose $20,000 contribution gave birth to the school in 1846.

After the presentation of special awards and scholarships and prior to receiving their diplomas from Karyn Meier, president of the Board of Education and Diane Munro, superintendent of schools, S. S. Seward Institute Principal Michael S. Rheaume addressed the graduates:

“Remember where you came from,” urged Rheaume, “and whatever you do, do your best. I love you all. I couldn’t be more proud.”

He then demonstrated that love by warmly congratulating and bidding farewell to each of the graduates, one by one, as they headed back to their seats diplomas in hand.

The Class of 2013 Salutatorian was Wei Lynn Ng, a member of the National Honor Society who received an Advanced Regents with Honors diploma. Ng, whose goal is to become a doctor of neurology, will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.

The Valedictorian was Kevin O’Neill, who is also a member of the National Honor Society and who also received an Advanced Regents with Honors diploma. O’Neill plans to study physics, mathematics and economics at the State University of New York.

- Roger Gavan