Tottenville High School holds graduation; student killed <strong>in</strong> November remembered Published: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 2:38 PM Amy Padnani Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel Graduate Karyn Savage waves to her family at <strong>the</strong> Tottenville High School commencement ceremony. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- No high school graduation could be complete without exhuberant cheers, fervent hat-tossers and even some who were dressed down for <strong>the</strong> occasion. The ceremony — <strong>the</strong> largest <strong>in</strong> Tottenville’s recent history, with 906 graduates — encompassed a range of emotions, from hearty laughter to bittersweet tears, much like <strong>the</strong> students’ memorable four years at <strong>the</strong> school. The loss of 17-year-old Elt<strong>in</strong>gville resident, Jan<strong>in</strong>e Brawer, permeated <strong>the</strong> event with a sense of poignancy; many said <strong>the</strong>y would miss Jan<strong>in</strong>e’s charisma, creativity and passion for life. Jan<strong>in</strong>e died outside <strong>the</strong> school <strong>in</strong> November after a car accident one Friday as she was head<strong>in</strong>g home from class. Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal John Tum<strong>in</strong>aro dedicated yesterday’s ceremony to her, with her parents tearfully seated on stage beh<strong>in</strong>d him. Page 124 of 154
“You, your classmates and your friends showed your compassion <strong>in</strong> so many ways,” he said to <strong>the</strong> class of graduates. “You made sure this school community will always honor her memory.” Tum<strong>in</strong>aro said <strong>the</strong> graduat<strong>in</strong>g class was no stranger to selflessness. Throughout <strong>the</strong>ir high school education, <strong>the</strong>y pitched <strong>in</strong> to <strong>the</strong> March of Dimes and <strong>the</strong> American Cancer Society and many o<strong>the</strong>r causes, mak<strong>in</strong>g community service one of <strong>the</strong>ir strongholds. He also commended <strong>the</strong>m for earn<strong>in</strong>g millions of dollars <strong>in</strong> college scholarships, along with championship awards for <strong>the</strong> mock trial team, <strong>the</strong> debate team, <strong>the</strong> march<strong>in</strong>g band and various athletic groups. Tum<strong>in</strong>aro said it wouldn’t take much for each student to succeed — <strong>the</strong>y already had all <strong>the</strong> necessary traits. “Be true to yourself and make each day a masterpiece,” he said. There were lighter moments <strong>in</strong> yesterday’s ceremony, too, when a male senior, sans cap and gown, paraded across Tottenville High School’s athletic field <strong>in</strong> purple and black-striped briefs, draw<strong>in</strong>g chuckles from his classmates while color<strong>in</strong>g Tum<strong>in</strong>aro’s face crimson. People were also amused by valedictorian Mat<strong>the</strong>w O’Shea’s quote from <strong>the</strong> punk group Have Heart. He advised <strong>the</strong> graduat<strong>in</strong>g seniors to always remember <strong>the</strong>ir strengths. “It’s <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>in</strong>side our heads not to take for granted,” he said. “Because an unexam<strong>in</strong>ed life is a seed unplanted.” Melissa Fay, 18, of Tottenville, said she was sad to leave Tottenville, where she enjoyed everyth<strong>in</strong>g from fun classmates to frustrat<strong>in</strong>g homework assignments. “It feels good — really good — to graduate,” said Fay, who will study at <strong>the</strong> Teachers Academy at <strong>the</strong> College of Staten Island. “I’m go<strong>in</strong>g to miss my friends and a lot of <strong>the</strong> teachers, especially my math teacher, Mr. Foster. He’s just a really good teacher who made class fun.” Here's a list of those who graduated: Nicholas Abbruzzese, Elia Abdalla, Mat<strong>the</strong>w Abel, Mat<strong>the</strong>w Abolt, James Abruzzo, Krist<strong>in</strong>a Abruzzo, Shammie Abul, Casey Accardi, Giavanna Adamo, George Adams, Amber Ahmad, Sameen Ahmed, Markos Akhnoukh, Dana Albano, Alec Aldahondo, Kyle Allen, Patrick Allen, Adam Alonso, Nicole Alonso, Sean Altberger, Tara Altschuler, Hawaa Aly, Nicholas Amendola, Nicholas Ancona, John Andersen, Bryan Anderson, Michael Anderson, Paul Andreolli, Dana Angelone, Vanessa Angiuli, Alexandra Annaloro, Sophia Anselmo, Maria Antico, Elizabeth Aparicio, Briana Appel, James Aquafredda, Leah Arato, George Arcaro, Andrea Arcuri, Salvatore Argano, Daniel Argenziano, Kenneth Arias, Fatima Arika, Majl<strong>in</strong>da Avdiu, Christian Avila, Marco Ayad, Sherry Maria Aziz, Karim Azzat, Mat<strong>the</strong>w Bacas, Nicholas Balestrieri, Joseph Balistreri, Michael Page 125 of 154
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