Thursday, June 20, 2019
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 18
Class of 2019 blazed its own path By Jack Carroll Special to The Citizen
Accomplished. Hardworking. Dedicated. Enthusiastic. Mature. These were words used by teachers when asked to describe Berlin High School’s Class of 2019.
Students celebrate during the Berlin High School graduation cermony, held Sunday, June 16 at Central Connecticut State University. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
Grads urged to make an impact By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Their years together as Berlin High School students will remain fond memories, but 2019 graduates said they are ready to move on to new experiences. "The world really is our oyster, and it's up to us to seize all the opportunities we are given,” Valedictorian Madison Monroe said during the school’s graduation ceremony, held at Central Connecti-
cut State University on Sunday. “I'm nervous to be leaving BHS behind, I am also excited to see what we can become, because there's so much that we can do.” Approximately 228 students walked across the stage at Welte Hall. Salutatorian Alex Halkias said he was glad to be part of a graduating class that he believes will continue along a special path.
"We have a class full of leaders, a class full of promising individuals ... and, yes, we may have lost almost every single tug-of-war, but size and strength is not all we need to be successful. Rather, we did it with our minds, our discipline and our heart. And yes, we're far from perfect, but in our flaws and in adversity, we showed resilience," Halkias said. See Grads, A7
Throughout their years at BHS, the Class of 2019 displayed a wide-range of skill sets, and a commitment to both academics and extracurricular activities. Take Ajlal Khan, for example. He contributed articles to The Citizen and was a member of the National Honor Society. Also, he created a student tutoring program, political club and a 3on-3 basketball tournament to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. To Khan, it was just a matter of “getting involved” and not being “afraid to make mistakes.” Khan’s classmate McKenna Evans would agree with that sentiment.
BHS Class of 2019 member and entrepreneur McKenna Evans.
In what started out as a Secret Santa purchase for a friend, Evans, after picking up pillowcases and hair ties at a discount store, launched a business, McK Scrunchies. Evans wasted no time promoting her hair band creations, and, back in March, McK Scrunchies took first place in the startup business plan category in a statewide DECA business competition. See Seniors, A9
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