Newtonite ◆ Monday, June 8, 2015 • Volume 94
Newton North High School, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville, Mass. 02460
Ceremony commends Class of 2015 Maxwell Kozlov This afternoon, the Class of 2015 concludes its senior year, becoming the 154th graduating class of this school. The graduates took their seats as instrumentalists from the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band played “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar. The ceremony began with Family Singers singing “America the Beautiful” by Katharine Lee Bates, a member of the Class of 1876. Seniors Jonathan Gomolka, Ella Laniado, and Eleanor Rogers then sang the National Anthem while seniors Tanya Montalvo and Taimin Rosado signed it in American Sign Language. After principal Jennifer Price welcomed guests, English Language Learning and EDCO seniors greeted attendees in American Sign Language, Armenian, Cantonese, Hebrew, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Next, mayor Setti Warren, superintendent David Fleishman, school committee member Geoff Epstein, and alderman Stephen Linsky spoke to the graduating seniors. Senior Irene Golden gave a speech on behalf of the Class of 2015, and retiring career and technical education outreach specialist David Ticchi spoke for the faculty. Price presented the Principal’s Plaque to the City of Newton Law Department. The award is given to a person or group of people in the Newton community who have made outstanding contributions to the students, faculty, and programs at this school. The department received engraved trays. Seniors then presented awards to their classmates. Bali Connors presented the Charles Dana Meserve Fund Award engraved tray and scholarship to Kavish Gandhi. The award honors an outstanding scholar who has made significant contributions to this school. by
Final seconds: Seniors count down the final seconds of their careers at North in the SOA last Tuesday morning. Noah Blankenship presented the Girls’ Senior Cup to Katie Nugent, and Sadiya Ervin presented the Boys’ Senior Cup to Sadiq Ervin. The Senior Cups are awarded for character, scholarship, involvement in the school community, and personality. Faculty members nominate students for this award and the senior class then votes on the nominees. Both Sadiq Ervin and Nugent received engraved bowls. Lucine Boloyan presented Kaija Gahm with the Phi Beta Kappa Award certificate and scholarship for academic excel-
Josh Shub-Seltzer
lence. Thomas Mobley received the Dickinson Memorial Award engraved bowl from Napoleon Miller. For this award, the athletic department chooses a male who has shown great improvement in athletic competition, sportsmanship, character, and skill. The Helene Breivogel Awardwas presented by Andrew Bombara to Nicole Quinn. The award is given to a female who improves in athletic competition and demonstrates character, skill, and sportmanship. The Gary Elliot Prize was
awarded to Peter Diamond by Spencer Bronk. Diamond received a certificate and scholarship for his dedication, creativity, talent, and love for the performing arts. Jonah Robbins presented Alexander Wei with the Margaret South Award engraved bowl to recognize his courtesy, courage, enthusiasm, and unselfish service. Jessica Gallagher was awarded the Newton Rotary Club William Rockwell Memorial Career and Vocational Technical Education Achievement Award plaque,
which was presented by Michael Caira. Ezeka Allen presented the The Lenny Zakim/PTSO Human Rights Award to Mathena Abramson, and Christina Delyani presented the award to Allen. The award honors students who pursue a greater understanding and appreciation of human differences. They both received a certificate and scholarship. At the end of the ceremony, seniors received their diplomas, marking the end of their time at this school.
Cate Waters Out with the old and in with the new. The Class of 2015 is leaving North, but what it leaves behind is almost older than the graduates themselves. For the class gift, the class will be refurbishing letters from the old building that read, “Welcome to Newton North High School.” The school plans to place the letters at the Tiger Drive entrance, according to senior Alexander Wei, vice president. When the officers approached principal Jennifer Price about creating a welcome sign, she reacted positively, informing them that the letters, previously hung above the main entrance of the old building—a gift of the Class of 1999—could be salvaged for a
new sign. The senior class decided on the letters because “there was no sign on the school itself that says, ‘Newton North High School,’” said Wei. Senior Nathan Buchwald, class president, said, “We wanted to bring back a touch of the old school with our own spin on it.” The class will provide funding to polish and refit the letters to the point where they look brand new, Buchwald added. Other gift ideas that were considered included putting in water bottle fillers, but the class felt that it would be too expensive and installation would be too complicated, according to Buchwald. Seniors said they are happy with the gift selection for their
class. “I think it is a good way to contribute to the school. It’s a representation of what our class stands for and will always be there,” said senior Vikram Krishnamachari. Senior Alexander Samaha said he believes that “our class gift is representative of our school’s amazing legacy by showing that even aspects of our past benefit our current lives.” Many seniors said they found particular meaning in bringing back some school history. Senior Adam Elghazzawi added, “I think it’s cool that they’re bringing something back from the old school, even if it’s small. It probably has some nostalgic value to teachers who experienced the old school.”
Senior class breathes new life into old letters by
Josh Shub-Seltzer
The end: The Class of 2015 celebrates as the clock hits 0:00 at Senior Countdown.
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