Press release from Rumson School District
The graduation ceremony for Forrestdale School’s Class of 2015 was held at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School on the evening of June 17, during which Rumson Board of Education President Colleen O’Connor and Deane-Porter School Principal Shari Feeney awarded diplomas to 118 students.
SGA Secretary Ryan Champeau, presenting the Class Gift, announced that the Class of 2015 would be providing a Bulldog mat for the entryway of Forrestdale School. Speakers included District Assistant Principal Amy Romano, Forrestdale School Principal Jen Gibbons, and SGA President Maxwell Connery, who recalled his time at Forrestdale School as a new student by observing that “I was made to feel included immediately, and then I came to realize what is unique about Forrestdale…we are free to be who we are thanks to an environment of acceptance.”
Forrestdale Music Teacher John Lebitsch led the Graduation Ensemble in performances of the Processional (Pomp and Circumstance) and the Recessional (Stargate VI).
Students received the following awards at the graduation ceremony:
- Mary Owen Borden Foundation Award for Excellence – Brennan Hughes and Ryanne Mulligan
- Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award – Haley Cameron, John Gangi
- Create Spirit Award in Honor of Lynn Reinalda – Lia Mann
- Rumson PTO Award – Harry Braniff, Kendall Zifchak
- Sarah Beels Dunikoski Award – Jenna Unger
- Nancy Guthrie “One Student Makes a Difference” Award – Brendan Shanley
- Alex J. Shanley Award for Extraordinary Determination – Alyssa Hull
- Rumson Education Foundation: 21st Century Learner Award – Madelyn McGuigan
- Award for Perfect Attendance During 8th Grade – Peyton McKean
- 8th Grade Dialogue Award Sponsored by Monmouth County School Boards Association – Ari Rosen
- Subject Awards – Thomas Kilbourne (Social Studies), Brooke Kearney and Alexa Setteducate (English), John Lizotte and Maya Wall-Esteves (Science), Klayton DalPra, Pierce Jarck, Patrick Modin, and John Quadarella (Math), Sam Eckstein and Jenna Unger (Spanish), Ryan Champeau and Ian O’Connor (French), Sam Eckstein and Maya Grubaugh (Health), Victoria Caetano (Music), Natalie Bruno and Isabelle Rosa (Art), Natalie Bruno and John Quadarella (Computers), and Grace Karagjozi and Ian O’Connor (Physical Education)
- Forrestdale School Band Award – Susan Munger and John Quadarella
- Award for Excellence in the Forrestdale Jazz Band – Max Connery
- Award for Excellence in Drama – Gina Teschke
- President’s Award for Educational Excellence – Sam Eckstein, Brennan Hughes, John Quadarella, Ari Rosen, Alexa Setteducate, Kate Setteducate, Maya Wall-Esteves
