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FALLSBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL
SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT www.sc-democrat.com
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2013
Fallsburg graduates 84 Ceremony also honors first Hall of Fame inductee cello resident and 33-year social studies/history teacher who served as mentor to hun-
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAN HUST
FALLSBURG — “Oh, the places they’ll go!” Amidst a Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat theme, 84 Fallsburg high-schoolers transformed into graduates before a cheering capacity crowd on Sunday. Board President Joe Collura called it “the culminating moment” in these young people’s lives. “We’ve seen this group evolve from milk & cookies to Shakespeare & calculus,” he observed in his commencement speech. Turning to the grads, Collura said, “You may think you’re from a small town in upstate New York, but you can stand toe-to-toe to the best the world has to offer. ... You see, you come from a community of givers, not takers.” Chief amongst those givers is Jack Leshner, the Monti-
Paige Seletsky receives her diploma Sunday at Fallsburg. dreds of Fallsburg alumni. Fittingly, he is the school’s first Hall of Fame inductee, announced during graduation. “He made history come alive,” noted Supt. Ivan Katz, calling Leshner “a gentleman’s gentleman.” Leshner taught at SUNY
Sullivan until 2011 and was a member of the Monticello school board, but his three decades of influence on Fallsburg students (including creating its alumni association) was profound. “Firsts are first for a reason,” said Collura, who was taught by Leshner. The man himself was modest, recalling all the names of his former colleagues listed on a variety of scholarships and awards handed out that afternoon. “Fallsburg has always had the greatest faculty in Sullivan County,” Leshner affirmed. Calling the award a “wonderful honor,” he tearfully anticipated the days his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and more will “see their old man’s name” in Fallsburg’s hallway. But this was also a day for new talent just emerging, and he advised the graduates, “The key to success: fulfill your dreams.”
Jack Leshner, formerly of Monticello, was honored as Fallsburg Central School District’s first Hall of Famer on Sunday, in recognition of his 33 years of outstanding education to hundreds of students.
The Cat in the Hat theme pervaded Fallsburg’s graduation, including this creative and fanciful illustration of the hamlets the school district serves – also known as “Falls-burg-ary”! “Many in this class are destined for great things,” predicted Salutatorian Adam Dohrenwend, grateful to his teachers for the lessons learned. “We students can always find a willing, helping hand.” But a larger world looms – a thought that caught Valedictorian Arjun Malhotra while he was looking in the mirror. “Dang, I’m a big kid now!” he related in a speech filled with good humor and tales of classmates’ hijinks, from “taming” a bear to breaking into the school to get homework assignments. “Guys, I don’t know who I’d be without you,” he told the Class of 2013. “I love you all!” “It’s hard to believe that 13 years ago we were walking in lines and learning to count,” recalled Class President Ann Moore. “... I need to stress how much love this class has for each other. ... It may sound clichéd, but this class is a family.” A family full of “shining accomplishments,” boasted Supt. Katz. “The most important thing we have done as a school community is to help them to learn, to think for themselves,” he explained, adding that if high school has been any indication, “our kids are
Self-described “class clown” Lamaria Edwards “surfs” the breeze blowing from a much-appreciated fan in the hallway at Fallsburg High, where grads like her were getting ready for the ceremony.
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