By Donald Wittkowski
Hiba Ahmad recalled how she clumsily walked into a door during her first-period class on her first day as a freshman at Ocean City High School four years ago.
“Not through. Into,” she noted. “I was so embarrassed, I wanted to melt into the ground and disappear. If this was how high school would go, I thought, I’d never graduate.”
But Ahmad, who is heading to Georgetown University, now stands on the threshold of walking “through” many doors. She graduated Thursday as valedictorian of the Ocean City High School Class of 2017 and assured her classmates that they, too, will join her in walking through those doors of opportunity during their lives.
“No matter how many tries it takes, we’ll pass through any door. And we’ll be proud of the person who walks through,” Ahmad said in her valedictory address during the commencement ceremonies.
Graduates march into Carey Stadium while flanked by school administrators and faculty.
Clad in red and white robes reflecting the school colors, a total of 315 graduates received their diplomas under sun-splashed skies at Carey Stadium. In a final, celebratory act to bring their four years of high school to a close, they tossed their caps high in the air amid cheers and applause.
Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Taylor called the Class of 2017 “always spectacular.”
In offering three pieces of advice to the graduates, Taylor humorously patched together a series of metaphors symbolizing the challenges they will face throughout their lives and how to overcome them.
Steering them toward a path of financial stability, she told them the first thing they should do is to save a nickel. She urged them to put aside an even larger amount each time they save later on to build up enough to last a lifetime.
“You are not saving for a rainy day. You are saving for your life,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Taylor calls the Class of 2017 "always spectacular."
Taylor also suggested that they should “find a good car mechanic.” Alluding to the struggles the graduates will face ahead as adults, she stressed they will need to find reliable people, including friends, family members and car mechanics, they can always count on.
Finally, Taylor reminded them of the importance of family. She said the latest research indicates that the graduates may live to the ripe old age of 104, so they should always recognize the love and support given to them by their family throughout their lives.
“Remember, in life, it has been, and always will be, about your family,” she said.
Kimberly Brown, left, is class salutatorian and Hiba Ahmad is valedictorian.
Ahmad, meanwhile, told her fellow graduates that they should learn to “love themselves” and to accept the fact that they will make mistakes as they continue their lives after high school.
“So let’s do it,” Ahmad said. “The world for us now is a blank slate. No excuses. Be the person you always wanted to be. Push yourself out of your comfort zone.
“Graduating, and going out into the world, is a lot like potty training, only messier,” she continued, drawing laughter from the crowd. “We are going to have accidents, and we shouldn’t let anybody tell us that’s not okay. Because we’ll get to where we need to be.”
Kimberly Brown, class salutatorian, said in her commencement remarks that high school graduation marks a “pivotal transition” in life that reflects the bravery and courage within all of the students.
“During high school, we made many decisions that required courage, and we made the conscious choice to battle through our fears,” said Brown, who will attend Brown University. “Perhaps we feared pushing ourselves academically, telling our parents something, or voicing our opinions.
“Whether or not we took a risk and did these things anyway, we should all be proud of ourselves for having been brave,” Brown added. “We’ve had to see that while blending in is easier, those who challenge the status quo make the most profound impact on the world. These people are leaders; these people are lights in the darkest surroundings. When we are brave, we drive change forward or fight against bad things.”
Crowds packing the grandstand at Carey Stadium watch the commencement ceremony
*Be sure to check-out our graduation pictures on our Facebook Page.
The following is the list of the 2017 Ocean City High School graduates:
**Patricia Mary Abenante
**Christian Dennis Adams
Rebecca Leigh Adamson
*Julianne Grace Affanato
+**Hiba Ahmad
+**Rialee May Allen
+**Alyssa Carmelina Altieri
+**Bradari Philip Altman
+**Jany Marcella Anderson
Joshua Levin Anderson-Rahn
Cameron Phillip Andres
Peter A. Apessos
Nana Yaw Asare-Tandoh
+*Amanda Paige Attiya
**Linda Eveline Avila
**Matthew John Baldini
*Hanna Virginia Banner
*Katelyn Rose Barbuto
Emily Riley Batastini
Brody William Bauer
Madison Samantha Baughman
Robert John Becher, III
**Michael Sheridan Beebe
Alice Marie Belskis
**Garret Steven Benvenuti
*Elizabeth Marie Blankley
+**Logan Brian Bloomstead
*Courtney J. Linda Bodenschatz
Victoria Grace Bonino
+**Julia Summer Bornhardt
**Liam Michael John Bradley
+**Fiona Marie Breslin
+**Joshua Laurance Brook
*Brittany Lynn Broomell
**Abigail Madison Broschard
+**Kimberly Dawn Brown
*Macie Alexandra Buch
*Michael Carlo Calabro
+**Sara Nicole Caracciolo
+**Benjamin Donald Cardwell
Reed Michael Carlin
*Taylor Roberta Carr
*Kevin Paul Catanoso
+**Mia Rose Caucci
*Chanhi James Chheth
Andrew Chichester
Natalia Valentina Chin
Tasfia Mahbub Chowdhury
*Isabella Lorenza Citera
Justin Ronald Clark
*Ryan Joseph Clark
**Leigh Anne Clarke
*Madison Marie Compare
Timothie William Conover
Lawrence Thomas Cook, III
Cassidy Rayne Cooney
Caroline Nicole Corbo
Anna Caroline Cori
~Helene Lea Cornevin – Exchange Student from France
Steven Casey Eugene Costello
+**Sydney Elizabeth Couval
*Bryce Louis Cox
Lashawn Ray Crawford
Andrew Michael Cresci
+**Jack Michael Crowell
°**Rosalia Nicole Daddi
Thomas Jeffrey Dahl, Jr.
**Jacob Cooper Davis
Matteo Mercurio Dawkins
*Giovanina Rocchina DeLuca
+*Samantha Lynn DeRobertis
*Allison Nicole DiAngelis
°*Luke Alexander Zittle Dice
Joseph Noah Dilks
**Felicia Xi Dillon
Adelina Janise DiMaren
Annissa Jewell DiMaren
Elsie Ann DiPalma
**Julia Elena DiPietro
+**Andrew Michael Donoghue
*Killian John Dougherty
*Samantha Jane Dragon
*Delany Rae Driscoll
*Daniel Carson Dulin
Gabriel Stuart Eberly
Christopher Michael Edwards
+*Matthew Robert Edwards
Lauren Alexis Ehresmann
Jessica Robyn Eigenmann
Kayla Marie Eisenlohr
Shelby Lynn Errickson
Natalie Alexandra Esposito
+**Nicholl Carol Fenton
*Brianna Lynn Ferrara
Alexia Marie Filer
+**Sebastian Neil Fine
*Laura Anne Fithian
Abigail Flemming
*James Michael Flukey
+**Sadie Love Ford
°+**Austin Christopher Fox
*Ellie Marie Franckle
Dylan Russell Frasca
Jason Douglas Fulmer
Matthew James Fumo
+**Valerie Nicole Galderisi
**Sarah Elizabeth Gardner
+**Anthony James Garreffi, III
*Albert Caleb Garrett, IV
*Jacob Thomas Giblin
+**Isabella Sues Gilhooley
+**Shannon Michelle Gill
*Alexander Anthony Gorski
Blake Alexander Gorski
Donald Francis Gray
Natalie Grace Greene
John Carver Groves
Dominic Joseph Gullo
*Abigail Elizabeth Hackett
+**Jane Ellen Hadley
Andrew Joseph Haines
Kayla Marie Haley
*Brooke Meekings Handley
+**Julia Elizabeth Hansen
+**Jacey Quinn Hanson
Maxine Michaela Harkins
Bryce Gerald Haskins
**Anthony Roland Havens
*Dara Heritage Hennessy
**Thomas Henry, III
**Julia Anne Herrington
+**Keani Elizabeth Hindle
*Alexandria Rachael McDowell Hoffman
*Matthew William Holmes
Crystal Marie Holt
+**Samantha Erin Horowitz
°+**Paul Choi Howell
*Thomas Anthony Hulse
+**Madison Kylie Hunt
Michael Benjamin Hutchison
*John Louis Iaconelli
Andrew Ryan Iannace
°+**Janae Isaacs
**Ashley Elizabeth Jamison
Stephen William Jefferson
*Steven Lee Jernee
**William Mackin Trofa Johnson
Gregory H. Johnson, Jr.
*Miranda Marie Jones
*Megan Jessica Keenan
*Aliyah Theresa Kelly
*Anna Kathryn Kelly
Collin Brenn Kelly
+**Emma Wilson Kelly
Ryan Patrick Kelly
*Julia Ann Kennedy
Anthony John Kenny
Luciano Mario Keyes
+**Patrick Jamison Kistler
*Madison Lynn Kitchen
William Jacob Koeppel-Schmidt
Nathaniel John Kohler, Jr.
Mark Patrick Gruber Kolmer, Jr.
+**Sarah Frances Krajicek
+**Nicole Marie Kramer
**Dawson Robert Kuhn
Tylor Thomas Laine
Robert Elwood Lane
°+**Sean Michael Lane
Matthew Lashley, Jr.
*Alison Maria Lawn
+**Courtney Ann Leonard
+**Giuliana Leotta
Eric Joshua Levai
Brett Welsand Levering
Joshua Darrell Liesveld
Cade Harrison Louvin
Luciano Michael Lubrano
+**Sarah Grace Lucey
Georgia Jean Majka
*James Earl Mann, V
Alexandra Jeanne Martin
Hailey Nicole Martin
+**Madeleine Grace Martinelli
*Olivia Paige Martinelli
Sabbatino Bruce Marziano
*Sabrina Geneane Marziano
*Taylor Lynn Mason
Katharine Susan Matera
*Anthony Joseph Mavilla
°+**Elizabeth Lynn May
**Kaylin Marie McAndrews
Nathan Alexander McCallum
*Emily Catherine McCoy
*Holly Marie McCrosson
°+**Rylee Georgene McDonnell
**Victoria Brynne McHugh
Destiny Shy'on Krysten McKeiver
Victoria Rose McMaster
Liam Bryan McMurray
*Jacob Ray McNellis
Amanda Rae Meachon
*Danielle Nicole Menchen
+**Matthew Patrick Metzler
Kelsey Christine Meyer
Julia Grace Meyers
David Lawerence Millar
Jessica Lauren Leigh Miller
Clay Robert Mitman, II
°+**Madison Nicole Montanero
+**Evan Wiliam Monteith
+*Megan Iris Montemurro
°+**Liam Joseph Kronyak Mulhall
Ava Coryn Myers
Elizabeth Angelina Nealis
Valentina Maria Neely
Jared Collins Neill
Joseph Patrick Neiman
Christopher Vincent Ney
**Allison Nicole Novasitis
**Amanda Joan Nunan
*Nicole Suchi Nunan
Kelem Nyarko
*Jenna Marie Oberg
**Abbygayle Rose O'Boyle
Amanda Rose O'Connor
*Kyle James O'Connor
**Ashley Taylor Ogurek
**Thomas Patrick Olandt
*Matthew Joseph Oleksiak
Jenna Lynn Oliver
Angela Nicole Onley
Kathryn Rose O'Rourke
Troy Scott Palmer
+**Alexis Marie Paone
+**Aleva Calla Parker
*Juana Joyce Parral
Alyssa Marie Pasciullo
Christian Jason Pates
**Mackenzie Riley Pearce
**Samantha Elizabeth Peaschek
**Celvin Pelaez-Gonzalez
*Andrew Charles Pensa
°Alexander Joseph Perfetti
Michael Bauer Peter
+**Morgan Jennifer Pfau
*Jonathan Michael Phillips
°*Logan Jack Pierpoint
*Caroline Laura Pizzano
Skyler Dale Platt
+**Phoebe Morgan Prettyman
Ryan Matthew Prettyman
Sarah Cartney Prosser
°+**Devon Rose Punthrangkul
*Alexandria Kathryn Pursglove
Kiera Elizabeth Quade
*Olivia Ireland Quinn
Eduardo Jalil Quiroz-Mejia
*Devon Alyssa Raab
Georgie Marie Rauner
*Scott Kilian Redmond
+**Julie Anne Reeves
*Christopher Armand Ricchi
+**John Patrick Riordan
*McKenna Joy Robel
Shamus Ian Patrick Roberts-Campbell
*Christopher James Robertson
*Miriam Itzel Rosario-Vega
Matthew Christopher Ruff
° **Kyle Robert Rumaker
**Jordan Tyler Sabatino
+**Grace Anne Sacco
+**Jonathan Scott Salkeld
°*Colton Dayne Salomon-Lowden
*McKenna Lee Sartori
+**Michael Stephen Saul
*Emily Stephanie Scherer
+**Jared Michael Schiavone
+**Jason Christopher Schiavone
Lauren Haley Schmidt
Wolfe Ray Schwartz
Heather Marie Schweibinz
Kevin David Seelig
**Brooke Sarah Segich
**Nicole Raley Seither
Jadalyne Stevie Selgrade
+**Jasmine Santosh Sham
*Sarah Margaret Shannon
*Alexandra Marie Sharp
Jamison Kevin Shaw
**Alyssa Marie Shiffler
*Noah Clement Siciensky
+**Casey Elizabeth Sigmund
°**Jacob T. Simone
+**Jacob Thatcher Smith
*Brianna Kathleen Snyder
Lacey Irisa Stadler
Tabitha Leigh Stauffer
Grace Ann Steele
Ian Dunn Steele
**Meredith Jane Steele
*Britney Lee Stein
George William Swensen, Jr.
Antonio George Swift
*Torre Samantha Teise
**Andrew John Tomaino
Michael Anthony Torcasio
**Matthew Quentin Torrence
Brooke Ashley Tort
*Joseph Michael Tripoli
Natiya Quanisha Trzecki
Colton Daniel Ulmer
Haley Nicole Vitko
Nicole Anne Wagner
*Madeline Emma Leigh Walker Hughes
**Daniel Patrick Walsh, Jr.
+**Forest Yue-lin Wan
Angelea Nicole Wilcox
+**Nicholas Owen Williams
+**Meghan Barna Wilmott
Sean Mitchell Wilson
*Gianna Elizabeth Witasick
Seth Francis-Alexander Wood
*Rachel Elaine Wright
Samantha Jane Wright
+**Stellanie Anastasia Yiannos
Kuang Yao Young
+**Kasey Jean Yunghans
+**Taylor Michelle Zeides
Samuel Denis Zimmerman
+ National Honors Society
** Highest Honors
* Honors
°STEM
~Exchange Student
