With a surfing festival happening on the beach a few hundred yards away and summer crowds filtering onto the Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City High School graduated its Class of 2014 on Friday afternoon.
Ocean City's graduation takes place at Carey Stadium, adjacent to the beach and boardwalk. The setting serves as a reminder of the school's unique oceanfront location, and friends and family in the audience enjoyed blue skies and cool weather for the occasion.
The class graduated 110 years after Ocean City High School's first formal commencement in 1904 and 10 years after the reconstruction of the new high school in 2004.
Valedictorian Maham Ahmad — who graduated with a weighted grade-point average average above 5.0 — urged her classmates to "eliminate the one feeling that hinders our growth: regret."
“Don’t regret anything," she said. "Every choice you make makes you who you are today. It’s up to you to decide who you want to be."
Then, casting any potential regret aside, Ahmad launched into a rap that perhaps could be penned only by a valedictorian. It included this passage:
" ... Everyone has it different so be open to the rarities
Have your heart pumping blood filled with passion and sincerity
Be true to yourself, it’s your hemoglobin of clarity ..."
Carolyn Previti's salutatorian address included a similar theme of seizing opportunities to live life to the fullest.
"To truly gain wisdom, we must travel, must see, and must interact with the world," Previti said. "More important than leaving a mark on the world is our willingness to have the world leave a mark on us. To enhance our world, we must absorb that which it has to offer: its art, its writing, and its natural beauty."
"I invite you today to join me in this view of education, this quest for enlightenment. For education truly is a journey, one on which we must embark willingly, with open minds and a sense of humility."
Friday's ceremony included the school choir singing the senior song "You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins, a recognition of graduates from the OCHS Class of 1964 and the traditional turning of the tassels.
See list of the
Class of 2014's Top 10 scholars. A complete list of graduates in alphabetical order follows:
Ocean City High School Class of 2014
- Ryan Patrick Ahern
- Maham Ahmad
- Renata Lee Altimari
- Mina Alicia Amjadi
- Peter Mark Anderson
- Sarah Nicole Anderson
- Amanda Joyce Andrews
- Alexandra Anne Auberzinsky
- Nina Sophie Bachich
- Kristalyn Adele Bailey
- Audrey Kay Baker
- Nicole Marie Barbera
- Christopher Joseph Barham
- Michael Anthony Barrett
- Liza Jean Barrick
- Danielle Nicole Baruffi
- Susan Louise Baumgardner
- Elizabeth Hanna Beatty
- George Roy Beckert
- Jenna Rose Beese
- Carly Rose Benson
- Isabel Jacqueline Benvenuti
- Victoria Linay Berglund
- Anne Michael Best
- Kevin Michael Birk
- Brandon Jordan Bishop
- Melanie Mary Booton
- Keith Thomas Bopf, Jr.
- Caroline Waverlee Bowman
- Sean William Bowman
- Aine Theresa Boyle
- Francis Anthony Brady
- Keri Paige Broadley
- Noah Timothy Bromhead
- Michael Elvis Brown
- Savannah Marie Bruey
- Devon Charlotte Bry
- Lauren Olivia Burch
- Louis Nathanial Buyse
- Andrew Garrett Burnell
- Jonah MacKenzie Butler
- Ian Michael Byerly
- Laura Ann Bylone
- Christopher Benjamin Callahan
- Jennifer Marguerite Campbell
- Julie Ann Campbell
- Melissa Marie Cappolina
- Micaela Elizabeth Caroccio
- John Albert Carpenter
- Patrick Ryan Carr
- Tyler Patrick Carroll
- Ryan Alexander Casey
- Jake Kenneth Cassidy
- Nicole Castagnoli
- Erica Rose Catanoso
- Brianna Grace Cesanek
- Rachel Kai Chain
- Sarita Louise Charap
- Chenda Cindy Chheth
- Hannah Rachel Childs
- Sabiha Mahbub Chowdhury
- Sarah Olivia Clarke
- Timothy James Colwell
- Alexandra Maria Coste
- Olivia Rose Craig
- Dylan Thomas Craver
- Meredith Brook Cresci
- Ryan Patrick Cullen
- Julie Marian Cusack
- Leah Davies
- Jacqueline April Davis
- Connor James Dean
- Layna Marie Delatorre
- Katherine Lynn Delgrande
- John Joseph DeSimone, III
- Dominic David DiGiacomo
- Jeremy Alan Dilks
- Eric Scott Dillenberger
- Dylan Sonny DiMeglio
- Alexis Rianna DiMercurio
- Daniel Joseph Donato
- Theresa Siobhan Donlevie
- Jerold Brian Dougherty
- Michael John Dougherty
- Samantha Elizabeth Dowling
- Samuel Jerome Durham
- Kyrstin Alicia Ebert
- Danielle Marie Egan
- William Jacob Eisele, IV
- Garrett Taylor Ellis
- Marissa Anna Eshelman
- Kathleen Joyce Esposito
- Jayme Vincent Estadt
- Shannon Marie Farrell
- Aimee Lynn Ferenz
- Rachel Marie Fichetola
- Daniel Wayne Field
- John Thomas Flatley
- Bridget Cecelia Flynn
- Joseph Franklin Foster
- Kaitlyn Renee FoxTiffany Ann Fox
- Zachary Stephen Fox
- Derek Richard Frasca
- Isabelle Emerenciana Frascella
- Alexia Marie French
- Zachary James Fumo
- Cooper Patrick Gallagher
- Raymond Gonzalez
- Christopher Mark Gorski
- Justin Scott Goucher
- Jee-Anna Elizabeth Graeff
- William Patrick Graham
- Cierra Mariah Granger
- Connor Benjamin Louis Green
- Skylar Faith Green
- Lauren Marie Greiner
- Griffin Boyd Grimes
- Mark David Grimes
- Sarah Elizabeth Griswold
- Parker Anthony Guariglia
- Angela Rose Guido
- Elias James Guseman
- Tara Kaitlyn Hadam
- Cody Charles Hammerstein
- Joshua Luke Handshaw
- Whitney Alexandra Hanna
- Maureen Danielle Harkins
- Michael Earl Hartman, Jr.
- Gregory Joseph Heenan
- Brooke Melissa Hoffner
- Jasmine Marie Holder
- Brian Richie Hollinger, Jr.
- Marisa Marie Holt
- Jake Thomas Hughes
- Nicole Christine Hyde
- Taylor Rae Jackson
- Erica Taylor Johns
- Alexander Thomas Jones
- John Thomas Kane
- Edward Patrick Keenan, III
- Kieran Patrick Kelleher
- Luke McKay Kelly
- Meghan Anne Kelly
- Ian Patrick Kennedy
- Joseph Bruno Keyes
- Hunter Daniel Keys
- Shea Oliver Keys
- Julianna Marie King
- Emily Allison Knight
- Megan Marley Kohler
- Leah Frances Kornberg
- Julianna June Kuemmerle
- Gloria Mary Laboy
- John William Lacontora
- Amanda Marie Leonetti
- Joseph Daniel Lewis
- Nicole Marie Libbey
- Robert Sutton Lokken Jr.
- Thomas Michael Lonergan
- Sebastian Jose' Lorena Sanza
- Erika Renee Lorenz
- Jessica Luker
- Abigail Marguerite Lyons
- Brendan Michael Macfarlane
- Madison Grace Mack
- Christina Noel MacLane
- Paige Mary Manjrawala
- Flavia Francesca Martinez
- Justin Michael Mason
- Christopher Alexander Mateer
- Corinne Marie Materazzi
- Rachael Joan Matousch
- Dennis Camburn McAneny
- Timothy Francis McBride, Jr.
- Evan Scott McCardell
- Olivia Mary McGuckin
- Colby Patrick McGuigan
- Kyle Michael McGurk
- Natalie Anne McKenna
- Erin Rhyan Meehan
- Gina Ann Melillo
- Olivia Hope Meloy
- Gunnar William Mentzer
- Constance Irene Meyer
- George Daniel Meyers
- Anthony John Mirallegro
- Vincent James Monzo
- Jessica Paige Mounce
- Savannah Paige Mueller
- Emma Barns Murphy
- Kathleen Jo Murray
- Dennis Matthew Neville
- Jacob Daniel Newsome
- Joshua Cole Nixon
- Lauren Magnuson Norbury
- Gianna Alaina Norwood
- Rebekah Anne O'Brien
- Evan Christopher Ochlan
- Shaun Michael O'Connor
- Charles William O'Donnell
- Robert Joseph Ohlsen
- Joshua Nicholas Alexander Olandt
- James Anthony Pachelli
- Melissa Lauren Pagano
- Samuel John Palombo
- Louis Salvatore Paone
- Victoria Jasmin Papazacharis
- Samantha Irene Parks
- Stephen Wirth Pashuck
- Hadly Alexandra Patterson
- Jamie Lynn Patton
- Olivia Mary Pawling
- Shelby Rose Petro
- Ellen Hester Pfeifle
- Toni Darlene Pindale
- William David Pizzano
- Laura Taylor Pomeroy
- Charles Allison Poole
- Matthew Gabriel Popp
- Carolyn Marie Previti
- Justin Gregory Price
- Taylor Ann Price
- Andrew Thomas Prosser
- Marie Mardeleen Jacinto Quiao
- Madelyn Grace Raab
- Tara Nicolette Rapattoni
- Molly Reighn
- Daniel Joseph Reinhold
- Nicole Danielle Renteria
- Ryan Jacob Richards
- Edgar Daniel Rivero-Corrales
- Michael Thomas Rodriguez
- Carly Rocio Roeck
- Justin Michael Roof
- Cassandra Lee Rosamond
- Shawn Michael Rossetti, Jr.
- Anyshia Mariah Rowell
- Justin Edward Ruggia
- Brittany Erin Rush
- Hunter Lynn Ryan
- Charles Harold Sabatino
- Zachary Anthony Sakena
- Nicholas Saltarelli
- Taylor Gloria Scanlon
- Allison Marie Schad
- Alexander James Schoedler
- Jordan Kelly Sedotti
- Lana Elizabeth Sharp
- Margaret Mary Shiffler
- Nicole Elizabeth Shiffler
- Sharon Theresa Shiffler
- Megan Patricia Shone
- Jason Tyler Silipena
- Jonathan Charles Simonson
- Brian Joseph Slate, Jr.
- Michele Evan Snyder
- Kyle Austin St. John
- Haley Elizabeth Stadler
- Joseph Michael Stadnicki
- Paul Michael Stanton
- Sean Patrick Stanton
- Kayleigh Kathryn Stark
- Raquel Katlyn Stark
- Thomas Anthony Steelman
- Justin Case Steen
- April Marie Stein
- Austin Ryan Stroh
- Kristen Sandy Stuart
- Noel Elaine Styer
- Jeremy Stephen Sullivan
- Lauren Johanna Sutherland
- Madeline Mae Szabo
- Christina Francis Taylor
- Alexandra Lyn Teise
- Deanna Nicole Terrazzini
- Luke Hoffman Terry
- Michael Jack Teti
- Courtney Ann Thern
- Joshua Paul Lamont Tibbitts
- Shawn Michael Tiernan, Jr.
- Colin David Twiggs
- Jamie Leigh Unger
- Timothy Jonathan Vant
- Lauren Victoria Vetter
- Jonathan David Vineyard
- Anthony John Vitagliano
- Tyler Jason Vogel
- Alyssa Monet Walker
- Andrew Scott Walker
- Jason Patrick Walker
- Kieran Patrick Walsh
- Alicia Marie Walton
- Richard Stephen Washart
- Erica Jane Watson
- Sha-Quan Sha-Riff Wesney
- Kevin Wayne Wiesner, Jr.
- Grace Ann Wigglesworth
- Hayley Renee Williams
- Chandler Ryan Wilson
- Kyle Robert Wilson
- Frank Richard Woolley
- James Thomas Woolley
- George Irving Workman, IV
- John David Young
- Rachael Elizabeth Young
- James Michael Zambrano