TROY, N.Y. — Columbia High School celebrated its graduating Class of 2022. The commencement ceremony was held on a warm, sunny summer morning in the McDonough Sports Complex at Hudson Valley Community College.
The Blue Devils adorned in blue and white caps and gowns were full of excitement with family and friends looking and cheering them on. It was a class that endured a lot together in the past few years.
More than 300 students crossed the stage and into a new chapter of their lives, earning their high school diplomas.
During the graduation program, Gabriella Blaise-Coleman inspired with a poem, and LayVon Scott, accompanied by Conor Frost, sang a rendition of Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time,” which was followed by a standing ovation.
Columbia High School seniors Julia Hannum and Justin Sapienza were selected as the Class of 2022 Valedictorians. Hannum graduated Summa Cum Laude (with high honors). She also had a weighted GPA above 100. Hannum addressed her fellow graduates during the commencement ceremony.
Hannum will study Biology at SUNY New Paltz in the fall with the goal of becoming a high school biology teacher. She reflected on her time at Columbia and fittingly about how much so many teachers influenced her wanting to become a teacher herself.
“Teachers share more than just their chosen topic with us, and I would like to relay a few of those reminders that we should keep with us as we leave the halls of Columbia and go into the world,” Hannum said.
“Teachers show us that someone is always there for us. I know this year especially, many of us, including myself, have chosen to eat lunch in our teachers’ rooms with them. Similarly, our teachers have always opened themselves up to random visits, even if it’s just to say “hi.” Our teachers graciously opened not only their classroom doors but also their free time to us. These generous acts show us that there will always be someone there if we need them, whether it’s a professor we have yet to meet, a future dorm-mate who leaves their door open whenever they’re not busy or a prospective colleague who also offers their free time,” Hannum continued.
“Teachers show us that someone will always believe in us. Even if you don’t believe in yourself, your teachers always do. Whether it’s a quick “Good luck!” before their own test or offering their free time to stay and help you when you don’t understand something, teachers are constantly encouraging and motivating us. Their support also continues long after we have a class with them. We may have new teachers throughout the years, but our former ones are still always there for us, serving as a beloved continuity in our lives,” Hannum noted.
“Lastly, teachers show us to do what we love. I decided that I wanted to be a teacher by watching my own teachers, and I recommend looking out at the people around you and seeing what you connect to. Teachers are passionate about not only their subject as a whole but also their job of sharing that knowledge with us. For myself, I can’t imagine something better than being able to study and share my love of biology my whole life, and I hope all of you can find your passion too,” Hannum added.
Sapienza also graduated Summa Cum Laude (with high honors) and had a weighted GPA above 100. Sapienza, who will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall, also addressed his fellow graduates.
“As we embark on the next chapter of our lives, there are over 300 distinct futures that will come to fruition in the coming years. Each and every one of us will have a different definition of success, but there’s a quote that reads, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” So I encourage you to build your future around what makes you happy. Find your passion and pursue it because that is how dreams can become reality,” Sapienza said.
“We all took different routes to get to this day and the journey through life we are each about to commence will no doubt be different for all of us, but we all can remember our first pep rally together as a class. We all can remember the class picture we took at the beginning of this year. And we all can remember this day, when we came together one last time as a class to commemorate our ride through Columbia High School together,” Sapienza continued.
“To the Class of 2022, it was an honor being your classmate, walking alongside you in the hallways, and awkwardly looking at you during Google Meets over the last four years. Thank you for an unforgettable last four years and ride through the East Greenbush Central School District that has shaped who I am today and hopefully had the same impact on you as it did on me. I wish you all the best as you chase your dreams, find your gift, and give it away to the world,” Sapienza added.
