Trusted Local News

Ocean City High School's "Always Spectacular" Class of 2017 Graduates

  • News
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