S.S. Seward Institute graduation ceremonies held June 22

On Saturday morning, June 22, more than 700 guests attended the graduation ceremonies at S.S. Seward Institute in the Village of Florida.
Fifty-six graduates received their high school diplomas that day during the school's 122nd commencement.
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.
Guest speakers during the graduation included Superintendent of Schools Jan Jehring, Principal Michael S. Rheaume and Class President Melvin Meuller.
Following the traditional playing of "Pomp and Circumstance" and processional, Rheaume formerly presented the Class of 2019.
The Class Salutatorian this year was Athena Kerstanski-Moustakas, who will be attending the University of Delaware this fall. She plans on majoring in Environmental Engineering and then continuing her education in graduate school.
The Valedictorian was Holly Blumenberg, who will be attending Ramapo College of New Jersey this fall. She plans on majoring in Biochemistry and then continuing her education in graduate school. Her goal is to work as a laboratory scientist developing cures for unmet medical needs.
Rheaume also expressed his sadness and that of everyone present about the death last July of one member of the Class of 2019, John R. Guerra, who had been killed in an automobile accident.
His memory has since been honored with scholarships in his name and during the ceremony Rheaume and Assistant Principal Susan Moore presented the John R. Guerra scholarships to award winning students.
Other awards and scholarships were also presented by representatives of the Florida Alumni Association, Florida American Legion Post #1250 and the Florida Fire Department.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies, Board of Education President John Redman, Jehring and Board member Meg Sgombick presented diplomas to all the graduates.
- Roger Gavan