For the fifth consecutive year, Long Beach High School congratulated graduating seniors who successfully completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program with a recognition ceremony.
Fifty-eight students completed the required two higher-level and three standard-level International Baccalaureate courses, internal assessments, external exams, Theory of Knowledge course, extended essay and 150 hours of community service this year, a momentous task on top of an already challenging high school academic program.
Long Beach High School became an International Baccalaureate World School in 2010. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a comprehensive two-year academic program designed to prepare students for the demands of college while instilling within them the qualities that comprise caring and active citizens. International Baccalaureate classes are known for their academic rigor and encourage students to be inquirers, well-balanced, thinkers, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, risk takers and communicative.
On the evening of June 1, Board of Education President Roy Lester, Superintendent of Schools David Weiss, Long Beach High School International Baccalaureate Coordinator Jennifer Quinn and teacher/Key Note Speaker Daniel Vaeth shared words of praise and inspiration. Mr. Vaeth concluded his remarks with an encouraging rap performance that drew smiles from the class and audience.
“[The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program] inspires students to think deeply, to ask questions, to pursue personal aspirations, to set challenging goals and to develop a persistence to achieve them,” said Mr. Weiss. “Tonight we celebrate that persistence. The students here have met the challenges, and they were many, placed in front of them. We offer our hopes and prayers that as a school community, with the support of family, friends, teachers and administrators, that we have provided these future global leaders with the tools to shape a better world.”
“Most of all, try to live your life with honesty and integrity,” Mrs. Quinn said. “Make sure that your life’s work gives justice and fairness to others and never compromises your dignity or that of others. I know that through your work in the IB program, you have gained a greater awareness of how complicated life can be in communities around the world. This is something to never forget. Continue to volunteer, serve on boards, be part of a team, be part of a club and be part of a solution. Don’t just show up – go beyond, just as you did these past four years.”
Senior Jake Lopez was chosen by peers as to speak on behalf of the IB graduates. “We bent over backwards getting our assignments done, but that was only due to the guidance we received from many of our teachers and parents,” he said. “Behind every incredible student, there is an incredible teacher. I speak for all of us when I say that we couldn’t have made it this far without such amazing and awesome teachers.”
Each student’s name was announced and stoles were presented by Mr. Weiss, Long Beach High School Acting Principal Dr. Francine Newman and Assistant Principals Dr. Andrew Smith and Claude Irwin. Congratulations to Haley Abbott, Demi Amideneau, Phoebe Appel, Noam Barazani, Jacob Barkan, Tamara Benny, Veronica Bruce, Naomi Cain, Emma Carsella, Kyle Christie, Andreia Cochiorva, Emma Colletti, Nicholas Corsale, Sean Donlon, Madeline Fisher, Destiny Ganair, Angelica Green, Morgan Harrington, Emily Hulbert, Alexandra Kapilian, Jonathan Kapilian, Jacob Kaplan, Joshua Keitz, Kristen Koff, Christopher Lester, Alexa Levin, Jake Lopez, Haley Lynch, Ivanna Mangiafreno, Kathryn Mannle, Meghan Maquet, Chad Marsh, Devin McHale, Micah Navera, Francine Nizhnik, Marc Paez, Daniella Pagano, Stephanie Pavlides, Cassie Peppe, Max Poretz, Bridget Rafferty, Emily Reilly, Hailey Rogoff, Paige Rogoff, Chelsea Rotando, Demetri Samothrakis, Klaudia Sarno, Synthia Sarno, Remi Schott, Solomiya Sotnik, Jordan Torregrosa, Karla Umanzor, Marcus Unger, Raul Vidal, Dante Vittor, Alanna Weiss, Justin Weissberg and Mariana Whelan.