Update 7-25-23:
Our photographer has shared additional photos. Additional candid photos may be viewed here. Additional individual graduate photos may be viewed and purchased here. To purchase, the store options are on the top right of the gallery.
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“We look forward tonight as the new adults of this world,” RCS Class of 2023 Salutatorian Howard B. Engel IV as he addressed his fellow classmates during last night’s graduation ceremony at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
To view pictures from the evening, please click here to access our Google portfolio.
To view a full video of the graduation, please click here (note: there is no sound for the first 2 min.)
He first recalled memories of watching past graduates walking down his elementary school’s halls in the district’s traditional senior walkthrough ceremony. He remembered thinking they were giants. He also remembered thinking 18 was so mind-bogglingly old.
Engel turned 18 the day before the ceremony.
Seated behind him at the podium was his father, hardly lifting his eyes away from his son. And a proud smile that never left, even when his boy revealed to the audience that graduation day was also his 53rd birthday.
“That’s really old,” said the younger Engel.
In his message, Engel implored his peers to press forward into the future devoid of fear. Their life passions, wherever they may lie, should be pursued without hesitation. Words he shared with both his peers and those seated in the audience.
“You must take that character that you’ve worked so hard to create your entire life and do something with it,” he said. “I want to watch my children walk across their graduation stage and look back on my life to when I was an eager and motivated 18 year old and be proud of everything that I accomplished. And if you are one of those older people I am talking about, and you’re looking back on your life thinking, ‘I should’ve tried harder.’ Then take these words as advice.
“Today is a new beginning.”
Class Valedictorian Sulamita Voronko shared similar remarks, thanking her close friends and teachers for helping her go through each day with a smile on her face. She expressed gratitude towards her parents for pushing her along, to strive for nothing less than a 90.
“Which is impossible considering physics,” she said.
In her message, the top student confessed that she and her peers may not remember every theorem today. However, the greatest lesson she learned through her time at school went beyond the facts.
“We learned that life is not simply just about facts but about the friendships and relationships we build with each other,” she said. “We learned the value of perseverance, adaptability, and determination. And yes, we may have learned that Fg=mg and the chain rule, but we have also learned that knowledge is a lifelong pursuit and true wisdom comes to those who persevere.”
District Superintendent of Schools Brian Bailey acknowledged the obstacles his students faced through the years as he strung together a collection of familiar quotes, inviting the audience to finish each statement before a final “Class of 2023, live long and prosper.”
RCS High School Principal Ryan Funck told his seniors to trust their gut, as he dispensed sage advice to his students one last time. “YOU know YOU better than anyone else and your intuition will guide you to do what is best for yourself.
“My final piece of advice to you would be to sit down and set a few goals for yourself and ways in which you plan to achieve those goals and a timeline for each,” Funck said. “Put those goals into an envelope – or notes section of your Iphone because who uses paper anymore anyway? – and revisit those goals from time to time. Having something personal to work towards is the ultimate motivator.”
Good luck to each and every member of the Class of 2023.
