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Trustee is honored
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Enjoy Taste of Cranford
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K of C gives scholarships
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JULY 2021
VOL. 05 NO. 10
Cranford graduates the Class of 2021 By EmilyAnn Jackman Staff Writer CRANFORD — On Tuesday, June 22, the 320 graduates of Cranford High School’s Class of 2021 were cheered on by a crowd of family and friends at the high school’s Memorial Field. Praising the graduates’ accomplishments despite the COVID-19 pandemic, CHS Principal Mark Cantagallo said he wished them nothing but success, adding he wanted the graduating class to set goals, and that one should be kindness. “They’ve exceeded expectations in every way, certainly during this challenging year, but throughout their entire 13 years in Cranford Public Schools. This is a great community,” said Cantagallo on Tuesday, June 22. “We couldn’t do it without Dr. Rubin, our superintendent, our Board of Education and all of our safety partners. “It’s been an amazing year,” he continued. “Kudos to our teachers and our nurse, another group of individuals who’ve exceeded expectations. Just the partnership we’ve had is really the reason why we’re here today. It’s a culminating event, and I’m excited to celebrate their success. I want the graduating class to set goals. One of those goals is to be kind to people every day, and you’re going to be able to change the world and make a difference.” Leading the graduating class into the future was valedictorian Robert Kelly. “I’m very proud of being the valedictorian,” Kelly said on Tuesday, June 22. “I’ve been working for this for the past four years, so it’s very nice to have achieved it now. I’m very excited to graduate. It’s a little bittersweet, because I’ve lived in Cranford my whole life, and I’m excited to start a new chapter. After graduating, I’m planning to study political science at Yale. “Good luck to the graduates, and don’t let other people dictate what you do; do what you want to do,” he added. Salutatorian Samuel Sullivan felt simi-
Class President Olivia Merriman said she felt honored to lead the class. “It’s been an honor to be working with all my friends and trying to help everyone. It’s been a really great year, despite everything,” Merriman said on Tuesday, June 22. “I’m really excited to graduate. I’m so excited for the future. The past is over now, and it's time to move on. It’s hard, but we’re all excited. “My advice for the graduates would be just to work hard and live every day as if it’s your last. I’m going to Clemson University, and I’m going to be majoring in business administration.” “I’ve been in office for four years. We’re an all-female core graduating together, so it’s actually really special,” class Vice President Savannah Riera said on Tuesday, June 22. “Especially during COVID-19, we’ve lost a lot of our fundraisers, so we all had to rally together to get the job done, but I love it. I love being the communicator between my peers and the class.” In addition to being excited about graduating, Riera, who moved here in her freshman year, said that her parents were born and raised here and that it was Photo by Steve Ellmore meaningful to her to have a diploma from this school as well. Class of 2021 President Olivia “Next year, I’m going into the military, Merriman addresses her peers. so this is a stepping-stone to that, and I’m really excited,” she continued. “After larly about the transition. “I feel good. It’s a little bittersweet, but graduating, I’m going to the U.S. Coast I’m going to college really far away, and Guard Academy, starting July 12, and I’ll I’m kind of excited to start a new chapter,” be there for five years, and then I’ll graduSullivan said on Tuesday, June 22. “I ate as an officer in the Coast Guard. “Really take time to reflect on the peonever thought that I would get to be the salutatorian. I was very shocked on the ple that have been there for you, especialday that I got it, so it definitely feels really ly your families and your teachers,” added Riera. “Just take time to be together and good.… “After high school, I’m going to UCLA never forget the moments and the experifor political science,” he continued. ences you went through, and let’s all be “Remember to slow down. I feel like a lot successful in our own ways in the future. I of people go really fast, especially if thought about that the last day, walking they’re academically ambitious, but none through the high school.” of that really matters at the end of the day. “I’m really excited,” said Sophia MonSo just appreciate what is happening right tague, the secretary of her class, on Tuesnow.” See MEMORIAL, Page 2
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