Ward Melville Graduates Nearly 600

By the time they graduated on Sunday, members of Ward Melville's class of 2011 had taken an average of 58 classes. They collectively completed more than 14,000 state and national tests, and amassed nearly $20 million in grants and scholarships.

That's according to principal Dr. Alan Baum, who addressed the 589 graduates and told them to "never give up" in life.

"Don't give up on those dreams. ... Our country needs you. Our world needs you. Three Village needs you," he said. "This community and this class is strong."

Baum is not only principal of Ward Melville, but he is also a Three Village resident himself – and so he was able to hand a diploma to his own daughter, Camryn Baum, and nephew Zachary Baum.

His remarks were, of course, not the only sentiments of hope for the graduating class.

"The future is now and it belongs to you," said school board trustee Diane Peritore on behalf of the Board of Education.

James Giarraputo, senior class president, said he sought a meaningful comparison which he could use to sum up the senior class, but later said being a part of "a class unexplainable in a lame metaphor" wasn't a bad thing. He dedicated the senior class gifts, which included a new bicycle rack, new picnic tables for the senior patio, more than $800 to the , and around $700 to the incoming Class of 2014.

The senior class also purchased 20 new recycling bins for the school, which Baum said generated 1.2 tons of paper waste last month alone.

Emmanuel Kim may perhaps go down in history as one of Ward Melville's funniest valedictorians for delivering his speech in the form of a rap at Sunday's ceremony. But before his rap, he implored the school's administration to make an exception to its policy prohibiting the wearing of hats and caps in school – lest it get anyone in trouble on graduation day.

"I hope we can still graduate," he said.

In her address, salutatorian Ilana Scandariato described her peers as the "kind of people who don't look for the easy way out." She compared life after high school to the spelling tests she'd taken in first grade, when her teacher used to give "bonus words" in addition to the regular weekly spelling list.

"Go for those bonus words," Scandariato said.

The Setauket Fire Department and school nurse were on hand in case of heat-related illness, but no serious incidents occurred.

The number of graduates was in flux until early Sunday morning, which school administrators said was dependent on Regents scores and other factors.

Assistant principal Michael Owen, for whom Sunday was the 21st graduation ceremony he has organized, estimated nearly 5,000 people attended.

"It's grown into just a beautiful, elegant ceremony, and it's focused on the kids," he said.