“You, your classmates and your friends showed your compassion in so many ways,” he said to the class of graduates. “You made sure this school community will always honor her memory.” Tuminaro said the graduating class was no stranger to selflessness. Throughout their high school education, they pitched in to the March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society and many other causes, making community service one of their strongholds. He also commended them for earning millions of dollars in college scholarships, along with championship awards for the mock trial team, the debate team, the marching band and various athletic groups. Tuminaro said it wouldn’t take much for each student to succeed — they already had all the necessary traits. “Be true to yourself and make each day a masterpiece,” he said. There were lighter moments in yesterday’s ceremony, too, when a male senior, sans cap and gown, paraded across Tottenville High School’s athletic field in purple and black-striped briefs, drawing chuckles from his classmates while coloring Tuminaro’s face crimson. People were also amused by valedictorian Matthew O’Shea’s quote from the punk group Have Heart. He advised the graduating seniors to always remember their strengths. “It’s the gift inside our heads not to take for granted,” he said. “Because an unexamined life is a seed unplanted.” Melissa Fay, 18, of Tottenville, said she was sad to leave Tottenville, where she enjoyed everything from fun classmates to frustrating homework assignments. “It feels good — really good — to graduate,” said Fay, who will study at the Teachers Academy at the College of Staten Island. “I’m going to miss my friends and a lot of the teachers, especially my math teacher, Mr. Foster. He’s just a really good teacher who made class fun.” Here's a list of those who graduated: Nicholas Abbruzzese, Elia Abdalla, Matthew Abel, Matthew Abolt, James Abruzzo, Kristina Abruzzo, Shammie Abul, Casey Accardi, Giavanna Adamo, George Adams, Amber Ahmad, Sameen Ahmed, Markos Akhnoukh, Dana Albano, Alec Aldahondo, Kyle Allen, Patrick Allen, Adam Alonso, Nicole Alonso, Sean Altberger, Tara Altschuler, Hawaa Aly, Nicholas Amendola, Nicholas Ancona, John Andersen, Bryan Anderson, Michael Anderson, Paul Andreolli, Dana Angelone, Vanessa Angiuli, Alexandra Annaloro, Sophia Anselmo, Maria Antico, Elizabeth Aparicio, Briana Appel, James Aquafredda, Leah Arato, George Arcaro, Andrea Arcuri, Salvatore Argano, Daniel Argenziano, Kenneth Arias, Fatima Arika, Majlinda Avdiu, Christian Avila, Marco Ayad, Sherry Maria Aziz, Karim Azzat, Matthew Bacas, Nicholas Balestrieri, Joseph Balistreri, Michael
Page 125 of 154