Class of 2021 Commencement
timeless traditions made new
Anticipation was in the air at John Jay’s graduation—no one knew exactly how commencement at a baseball stadium would happen. Yet John Jay showed that its traditions of music, speeches and processions transcended any specific location and that the most important part of graduation is being together.
The outfield of Palisades Credit Union Park was transformed into a spacious ceremonial site. More than two hundred and fifty white chairs set in crisp formation at the top of the diamond faced a waiting stage hung with a John Jay banner. Approximately 1,000 guests looked down from seats behind home plate and along the first and third base lines—with many more at home, watching the live screened event—and wondered what would happen next.
processing through the outfield
celebrating in person and at home
The first notes of “City of Stars” from the movie “La La Land” wafted across the stadium, drawing attention to the jumbotron streaming the JJ Orchestra, then the Rollingtones and the Treblemakers.
Virtual turned multi-dimensional as a purple and white parade of graduates processed into the stadium to “Pomp and Circumstance,” their smiles flashing simultaneously on the big screen.
The Class of 2021’s commencement had begun in a novel way—a fitting capstone to a senior year unlike any other.
principal siciliano
Honoring the challenges of the pandemic
Each commencement speaker touched on the unique challenges of the past year. It was unavoidable—the need for safe social distance was the reason John Jay’s graduation was being held in the 6,500-person capacity stadium.
“The year zoomed by,” joked Principal Siciliano before highlighting the class’s legacy of “more we, less me.” Keynote speaker Chandler Lewis’s metaphor of taking masks off felt all the more impactful as the outdoor mask mandate had been lifted just days before. Salutatorian Remington Sandell spoke to her classmates' resilience. “When given a tough situation, we stepped up to the challenge and have accomplished all that we set out to do and more.” Valedictorian Jonathan Frantz noted the new perspectives and positive change formed by the pandemic. “We can capture this chance to recalibrate our notions of how to conduct our lives,” he posited.
the sweetness of being together
As Jonathan noted the sweetness of being fully together with loved ones, he captured the central emotion of the afternoon.
Parents and teachers described the Class of 2021 graduation as wonderful and memorable ceremony. Students also enjoyed the setup in which they faced and could easily hear the speakers at the podium.
“A new, prosperous season is ready to be born,” said Principal Siciliano said to the graduates. “Seize it, enjoy it. You have earned it. Congratulations!”
Jonathan Frantz, Valedictorian
Remington Sandell, Salutatorian
Casey Richman, Senior Class Address
Graduates A - F
Drew Sydney Aaron
Logan Bohn Aceste
Yonah Michael Adler
Emily Agona
Din Ahmetaj
Catherine Antonia Aiello
Quade Albert
Andrew Lucio Alvarez
Kevin Alexander Alvarez
Maxwell Almeida Andrade
Jackson Gregory Andrew
Marcos F. Arbogast
Oybek Askarov
Garrett M. Axelrod
Janet Baez
Bryce Baird-Taylor
Benjamin Liam Bartley-Cohen
Riley Pearl Bazaar
Jack Beeby
Sophia Lexi Benson
Sydney Raine Bieber
Ruby Bochicchio-Sipos
Spencer Wilbourn Boden
Sophia Lauren Boubli
George Vogler Brand
Ryan Michael Brennan
Aaron William S. Brotmann
Annika Bruch
Riley Claire Bryggman
Morgan Marilyn Burhance
Ava Simone Buzzeo
Audrey R. Campisi
Oona G. Campisi
Miles Capobianco
Liliana Louise Carey
Olivia Lucille Caviola
Lisa Chuquimarca-Deleg
Tejas Kavi Chimata
Carlo Chong
Anthony Christopher Ciancio
Amelie Sage Ciarcia
Althea Cisneros
Zara Clott
Benjamin Cris Cohen
Lucas Rocco Colleluori
Jonathan P. Connelly
Samantha Conway
Jane Louise Craig
Kelsey Anne Crawford
Timothy Leon Cronin IV
Dana Faith Culhane
Elizabeth Cusato
Ian Parker Cymbol
Thomas Matthew Dachik
Ryan John Damore
Thomas Day
Oscar E. DeMarco
Nicholas DeVincenzo
Mia Kei DiChiara
Kyle Thomas Dickson
Marc Vincent DiGiacomo
Brynn Theresa Marie
DiGuglielmo
Dana Marie DiNapoli
Alexandra Nicole Driesen
Mason Eli Droge
Lucas Alexander Eberhardt
Alexandra Joy Edelman
Madison Natalia Edwards
Symantha Ann Ehnes
Jason Landon Einhorn
Alexander Vassos Eliades
Donald William Engelhardt
Jessica Lilly Fassert
Gabriel Feinstein
Alexandra Fergusson
Cole Fergusson
Maria Theresa Feroce
Matthew Ferrer
Alfonso Fiorilli
Cesare Fiorilli
Mark Allen Fleischhauer
Madigan Gibney Flynn
Jonathan N. Frantz +
Graduates G - N
Tristan August Galler
May Breffini Galligan
Bella Sabatina Garcia
Heroina Lina Gecaj
Margaret Reid Gereghty
Nicholas David Giardina
Sofia Gil
Josue Giron
Michael Alan Goldstein
Samantha Goldstein
Daniel Levis Gonzalez
Brandon Josue González-Ortiz
Zachary James Gonzalezz
Allison Ann Gramando
Robyn B. Graygor
Peter Emmett Gressler
Brianna Nicole Griffith
Aidan Grskovic
Sophie Ann Guo
Jamey Gusmano
Clayton Hadlock
Grady Leá aevai Halaifonua
Michaela Marie Harris
Sarah Nicole Hayes
Harrison C. Heftler
Kieran Heneghan
Molly Reese Hickey
Samuel Tyler Hines
Owen Clay Hughes
Lainie M. Ingersoll
Sadie Innocenti
Ethan M. Jackson
Caio Jafet
Madeline Elizabeth Jahaly
Cassandra Jones
Melena Grace
Jovanovic-Monti
Aine Isabel Kaminski
Ryan Kaplan
Sarah Catherine Kelleher
Aidan Michael Kelley
Audrey Elizabeth King
Evan George Kistner
Michael Alexander Kistner
Anton Klettner
Aidan Koff
Sophia Belle Kreckler
Walter John Kreutzer
Catherine Labriola
Julia Nicole Labriola
Amelia Jean Landis
Caroline Sydney Lasota
Olivia Jane Lind
Olivia Lopes
David Lovejoy
Maya Lin Luongo
Lucas Joseph Lupinacci
Matthew Crispim Macedo
Kaitlyn Machado
Grace Mango
George Marcogliese
Christian Maresca
Kate Olivia Markowitz
Daniel N. Marschke
Henry Lawrence Marvier
Hannah Mazza
Megan Gail McCarthy
Regan Mary McCarthy
Michael Christian McKeon
Frank Albert McMahon
Zoe Jean McMahon
Kira Ashling McMann
Zachary Michael Melnick
Rebeka Mici
Oscar Wray Morabito
Evan Donald Morefield
Lauren Mullaney
Lauren Munoz
Michael Jonathan Murphy
Blaise Nastasio
Lindsay Helen Neumann
Paul Michael Newcomb
Thomas Joseph Norris
Graduates O - Z
Emily B. O'Dwyer
Jack Garrett O'Reilly
Isabel Grace O'Shaughnessy
Arcadia Ohnemus
Ivan A. Oliveira
Christina Oliveri
Anthony Andres Oquendo
Emma Corwin Oram
Zoe I. Ozols
Sophie Alice Pagano
Madeleine Panek
Rashad Panton
Annabelle Sage Parker
Ryan Joseph Parker
Nicholas J. Pelazza
Jonah Benjamin Peris
Steven Pichardo
Jackson William Pizer
Ryan Charles Pollitt
Christopher Polworth
Nathan William Potash
Lily Amanda Preis
Ryan Edward Prunty
Nicholas Michael Puccio
Yulia Alexis Purcarea
John Isaiah Quiban
Owen Christopher Rabii
Sawyer Sandberg Reed
Sophia E. Rice
Casey J. Richman
Danielle Jessie Roban
Julia Rossi
Paul J. Rossi III
Sophie Rudin
Joelle Hannah Sacks
Henry Richard Salazar
Alejandro Frederico Samayoa
Seth W. Samuelson
Remington Sandell #
Easton Sayre-McGill
Ashley J. Schafer
Donald Schaus
Rachel Hope Schenfeld
Maya Schwartz
Abigail Scinicariello
Sean Sexton
Olivia S. Shapiro
Jacob Silva
Charles Henry Simonsen
Casey Slepian
Alexandra Madison Slogoff
Scarlett Jade Small
Zoe Rose Sowder
Samantha Nicole Spieler
Emma Rose Spink
Winter Grace Stathis
William Michael Stein
Mark Peter Stevens
Aidan Jack Sussman
Alexander Hoyt Swee
Samantha Tan
Joseph Evans Tang
Tristan Taranto
Andzelika Tislenko
Jacton Tlaczani-Camones
Faye Tobin
Dylan James Tonsmeire
Bennett Joseph Tropiano
Phillip Valvano
Sabrina Vorbeck
Rishabh Vuthamaraju
Gavin Tyler Wagner
Bryce Barletta Walsh
Eliza Gibson Walsh
Owen Rall Walsh
William Young Walsh
Rachel Samantha Warshaw
Eliza Rose Wein
Scott B. Weinstein
Caroline Egan Weiss
Kyla A. Whalen
Casey Nicholas Wilcox
Benjamin Gray Wiles
Bridget Wilson
Sean Winter
Kristen Wolfe
Kiya Minna Zander
Patrick Michael Ziegler
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM
Prelude – JJ Orchestra, The Rollingtones & The Treblemakers
The National Anthem - Oona Campisi
Processional - "Pomp and Circumstance"
Welcome and Opening Remarks - Steven T. Siciliano, Ed.D.
Salutatory Address - Remington Sandell
Valedictory Address - Johnathan Frantz
Keynote Address - Chandler Lewis, Faculty Guest Speaker
Senior Class Address - Casey Richman
Presentation, Class of 2021 - Steven T. Siciliano, Ed.D.
Acceptance, Class of 2021 - Andrew Selesnick. Superintendent of Schools
Presentation of Graduates - Steven T. Siciliano, Ed.D.
Tassel Flip - Joseph Tang, Bennett Tropiano and Scott Weinstein, Class of 2021 Officers
Board of Education
Marjorie Schiff, President
Julia Hadlock, Vice President
Rory Burke, Terrence Cheng, Elizabeth Gereghty, Catherine Oestreicher and Dr. William Rifkin,
Board Trustees
Sawyer Reed, Student Board Trustee
District Administration
Andrew Selesnick, Superintendent of Schools
Danelle Placella, Assistant Superintendent for Business
Dr. Mary Ford, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Alice Cronin, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources
Lisa Herlihy, School Business Administrator
High School Adminstration
Steven T. Siciliano, Ed.D., Principal
Vincent T. Bell, Samir Biswas, Ph.D. and Kim Piccolino, Assistant Principals
Christian J. McCarthy, Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Wellness
Marisa Merlino, Director of Counseling
Advisors & Student Officers
Thomas Rizzotti and Steven Zoeller, Co-Advisors to the Class of 2021
Lucas Colleluori, Donald Engelhardt, Kaitlyn Machado, Paul Newcomb, Arcadia Ohnemus, Zoe Ozols, Joelle Sacks, Remington Sandell, Maya Schwartz, Joseph Tang, Bennett Tropiano, Scott Weinstein, Senior Class Officers