Graduating seniors devoted 9,170 hours to their community
High School Principal Emerly Martinez was one of the first people to speak at the June 26-27 commencement exercises. His initial year in Cornwall had been unique. It included a bed bug scare, a blue ribbon for the high school, a state championship in athletics, and a three-month separation of faculty and students. Even the graduation was different, with the seniors split into six groups to conform to the public gathering laws.
No wonder Mr. Martinez called the graduates “an historic class.”
“I’m sorry our time together was cut short,” he told them. But he acknowledged that the seniors were memorable for more than the unusual end of the school year. He cited their success in the three A’s, a concept that was introduced at a Cornwall graduation a dozen years ago. The three A’s stand for Academics, Art and Athletics. And the graduates excelled in all three.
The class was further distinguished by the success of the community service program. At the start of the year, Guidance Director Joe DeBold introduced a new requirement for graduation. Seniors would have to complete five hours of community service to get their diplomas. They would qualify for a special designation if they served a total of 200 hours during their high school careers.
Mr. DeBold later admitted he didn’t know how the program would be received. But he didn’t have to wait long to discover the answer. Students came to his office with documentation of volunteer work they had performed in the past. One teenager, for example, submitted his time sheets from the local fire department.
As a group, the seniors devoted 9,170 hours to their community. They tutored classmates and younger students. They organized events and hosted food drives. They filled CARE packages and created Personal Protection Equipment. Several students wrote letters of support to health care professionals and first responders.
The historic class had 22 graduates meet the higher standard for community service. Mr. DeBold was impressed and so was the audience.
Community service honorees:
Colleen Alva, Julie Alva, Bryan Banks, Madison Bauer, Kienle Burns, Daniella Canausa, Daniel Carpenter, Joshua Chirillo, Max Dinnebeil, Orlane Dubreus, Sydney Hall, Sophia Harding, Joseph Hart, Justin Hart, Marissa Hart, Keely Huling, Brianna LaGreca, Brendan McGovern, Charles Quinn, Richard Schaffner III
