Tears were flowing this morning as a crowd of parents, loved ones, friends and community members gathered for the 101st commencement of students in the Mattituck-Cutchogue Union Free School District.
Abigail Terry’s opening remarks shared the achievements of “the little high school that could” and Principal Shawn Petrettti detailed the long list of accomplishments, including, for the first time in history, state championships this year in boys varsity soccer and baseball, as well as academic excellence that earned the school a ranking of 880th in a 2015 U.S. News and World Report study, out of over 21,000 schools nationwide. Accomplishments were attained across the board, by the top-ranked NJROTC, students who garnered Teeny nominations and excelled in academics, athletics, the arts, Scouting, and on the SATs.
“That means there are over 20,000 high schools across the country that could learn a thing or two from the Tuckers,” Terry said.
“Some might even call them overachievers,” Petretti said. He added that beloved traditions, such as the senior sleepovers and framed posters in the hallway, are the thread that binds alumni and will always keep them tied to the heart of the school district.
Petretti led the students and guests in a spirited renditions of the newly re-released school song, composed by Coach Wormley.
The ceremony also featured remarks by Thomas Libretto of the Class of 1990, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Over $107,000 in scholarships were awarded to graduating seniors.
Salutatorian Daniel Parks gave a heartfelt address about the obligation of Americans to appreciate the gifts they’ve been given and to help those less fortunate around the world. “We can’t waste the privileges that come with being an American citizen,” he said, adding that across the world, those seeking a better life still risk everything, even jumping onto boats in the Mediterranean when they can’t swim, just to give their family opportunity. “The American dream does still live on but it takes hard work and serious sacrifice,” he said.
Three board of education members, Gerard Diffley, Sarah Hassildine and Laura Jens-Smith had children graduating; each was able to hand their child his or her diploma.
“My mom always told me to go into the world and do well, but more importantly, to go into the world and do good,” said Valedictorian Courtney Murphy. ” Quoting Walt Disney, she told her fellow graduates: “It seems to me that we have a lot of story yet to tell.”
Superintendent Anne Smith, just as she did years ago when they were second graders, read “Charlotte’s Web” to her students, describing how the spiders were poised to discover new worlds. Quoting the the books, she said, “This is our moment for setting forth.”
