On Friday, June 24, a class of 381 students from Bethlehem Central High School received diplomas at an evening commencement ceremony held at the MVP Arena in downtown Albany. It was a joyous event for the members of the class of 2022, their families, friends, teachers, staff, administrators and members of the Board of Education.
Principal David Doemel, Jr., Superintendent Jody Monroe and Board of Education president Holly Dellenbaugh all addressed the graduating class and guests. There were also two student speakers at the 88th BCHS Commencement Exercises.
Madeline Ferreira gave a keynote address that dispelled the myth of time as something that we lose. Instead, she argued, time should be viewed as moments and memories we accumulate, even when those moments are fleeting.
“Some of the most memorable moments from my time at Bethlehem were the late-night study sessions with my friends throughout my junior year,” said Ferreira as she spoke to her classmates. “Cramming to study for an AP test, we all came home from our practices and jobs to Facetime for hours, trying to recite from memory Roosevelt’s monetary policy or the real meaning of Marbury v Madison.
“The funny thing is that I don’t remember what grade I got on either of those tests, but I do remember the congeniality, the laughter, and the small talk we shared those nights,” said Ferreira. “From my experience at BCHS, I’ve learned that those little, stolen moments are the building blocks of our high school experience.”
Ferreira will enroll at Cornell University in the fall.
Daniel Zhou closed the ceremony by focusing on the special bonds that “school friends” have.
“Even though you and your school friends may have started off as strangers to one another, through all of your shared experiences, you formed meaningful relationships with each other,” Zhou told members of the class of 2022. “Look around you right now and think about who your school friends were throughout the last four years.
“Indeed, our time here together is coming to an end shortly, and this may be the very last time you see many of your classmates. You and your school friends might very soon become strangers with memories,” said Zhou. “You are all moving on to a new chapter in your lives, filled with new experiences, new pursuits, and new people. But no matter what you do, don’t forget about your school friends, for they are the ones who helped define the last four years of your life.”
Zhou will attend Dartmouth College in the fall.
The entire ceremony was livestreamed. You can view a recording of the ceremony here.
Students were also accompanied by their high school counselors as well as the 2022 honorary graduation marshals who are faculty members selected by the students as having had a significant impact on their time in Bethlehem. This year’s marshals were Kelly Babic, Teresita Barcia, Lester Betor, Kaaren Caron, Cori DiFabbio, Kristy Eldeen, Nick Ferguson, Corey Fong, Steve Gigliello, Evan Harley, Dena Henderson, Michael Letzrig, Amy Ludik, Alix Messier, Jeffrey Mongue, Mark Nealon, Leslie Obermayer, Anthony Scott, Nancy Stathopoulos, Matthew Rehbit, Julie Taylor, Eileen Turo, Michael Valenti, and Lauren Ward.
Many members of the graduating class of 2022 recently shared their plans for after graduation. Those can be found here.
Congratulations to our newest BC alumni for their hard work and their contributions to the BC community. We wish them the very best!
Class of 2022 – The Exit Interview
As the graduation ceremony got underway, two members of the BC Class of 2022 asked a bunch of questions of their classmates one last time.
Senior Awards
From the program:
Graduation 2022 Photo Albums
- Facebook album 1: Before the ceremony begins
- Facebook album 2: Hugs and handshakes edition
- Facebook album 3: Ceremony gets underway
- Facebook album 4: Ceremony in full swing
- Facebook album 5: Friends and family edition
*Candid photos will be added to Facebook throughout the weekend so check back for more. Professional photos taken at the ceremony will be shared with families separately,
Follow us on Instagram @bethlehemschools
Post-Grad Plans – Class of 2022
What do our newest alumni have planned for themselves? Many members of the graduating class of 2022 recently shared their plans for after graduation.
List of Graduates
* – Honor graduates, Lab School honor graduates and Bethlehem Academic Achievement Award winners with a 90 or above average for 3 ½ years wear gold cords.
+ – National Honor Society Members wear blue and gold cords.
** – President’s Award for Educational Excellence
*** – President’s Award for Educational Achievement
> – Seal of Biliteracy
^ – August 2021 Graduate
- Justin Abbuhl
- Jack H. Adams * **
- West Allen * **
- Elizabeth Claire Amodeo ***
- Tess R. Anderson
- Sophia Marie Annastas
- Robyn Lindsey Arnason * **
- Madison Michele Asmus * **
- Isobel I. Aviles Deliz * **
- Madeline A. Ayers * **
- Claudia Chantal Baggenstos Nova >
- Margaret A. Bailey * **
- Rachel May Barnes * **
- Elliot T. Barrett
- Alison L. Barron * ** +
- Liam D. Bartholomew
- Kirsten Sarah Baum * **
- Lillian Beiter * **
- Alyssa Bella
- Jenna L. Berben
- Milan Bhatia-Guerin ***
- William R. Bievenue * **
- Ayanna L. Bing
- Devon Noah Blackwood
- Charles Blanchard
- Saverio J. Blendell
- Gabriel P. Blodgett * **
- Rachel L. Boni
- Lidia E. Boucher
- Kyle J. Boyd
- Anna I. Bradford-Rickard
- Madalyn Eden Brand * ** + >
- Hayden G. Brock * **
- Eileen R. Bronk * **
- Hayden Willing Brown
- Margaret K. Bryngelson * **
- Olivia L. Buckley
- Nala Nibras Bughrara
- Ashley Bullard * **
- Ryann Marie Burns * ** + >
- Thomas W. Burzesi * **
- Alexander S. Cafiero
- Ryan J. Campbell
- Peyton Elizabeth Cardinal * **
- Micah R. Carlton * **
- Fiona Evangeline Castle * ** +
- Andrew Cerf
- Madelyn K. Cerza * **
- Emma Lynn Chaney * **
- Kristina G. Chavez
- Benson Chen
- Nicole C. Cintrón Ortiz * **
- Isabelle Joy Clark
- Jane Sierra Clark
- Nathí Riain Clarke
- Anna Cleary
- Alexa Colabufo * **
- Conner Finn Colonno
- Isabella M. Cometti * **
- Matthew David Connolly * ** + >
- Stella Grace Convertino
- Cameron R. Conway
- Allison Marie Coolidge * **
- Olivia J. Corazzini
- Joseph D. Corts
- Aliza Kathryn Yezzi Cotton * ** + >
- Melanie Robyn Couillard * ** +
- Jackson Cowin
- Andre David Cridlig
- Hannah Culley
- Campbell Elizabeth Cummings
- Connor J. Darcy
- Robert John Davis * **
- Emily R. DeGonza ***
- Rowan M. DelBene * **
- Megan M. Dellenbaugh * ** + >
- Orion Matthew Dennin * ** + >
- Christopher F. DeSorbo * **
- Hunter E. Detwiler * **
- Peter J. Devaprasad * **
- Evan N. Diligent * **
- Mark J. DiLullo
- Spencer W. Dodge * **
- Kira Hilary Doherty
- Paige A. Doherty * **
- Connor Patrick Donovan ***
- Luke E. Doyle * ** +
- Rachel Marie Drew * **
- Olivia S. Drury * ** >
- Ziran Du * **
- Caitlin Marie Dunican
- Frank Peter DuPont
- Maya Danielle Gordis Earleywine * **
- Ece O. Ercan * **
- David Anthony Espinal
- Jasmine Facchetti * ** +
- Isabella Frances Faiola ***
- Aubrey Fairfax
- Allison Marie Farrell * **
- Madeline Joan Ferreira * ** + >
- Kate Meredith Field * **
- Elianna Michelle Figueroa-Sealey ***
- Jacob Alexander Finerow * **
- Sinead E. FitzPatrick * ** +
- Patrick Daniel Fitzsimmons * **
- Gavin Follos * **
- Jonathan P. Forand * **
- Nikolas E. Freihofer
- Samuel A. Fresina * **
- Caleb Daniel Frezza
- Alivia E. Fugitt * **
- Isabella Mary-Ni Fuierer * ** + >
- Nicholas R. Furlong
- Rylan Patrick Gaffney
- Adrienne Emma Gahl ***
- Jackson Gallo Renich
- Sara M. Giacone * **
- Sofia Rose Giarrusso * **
- Gianna Giglia
- Seaver A. Glassman
- Amanda L. Gonzalez Gomez *** >
- Canden F. Gorman
- Mackenzie Gorman
- Matthew Anthony Grabe
- Kirstin Graham ***
- Marie G. Grause Moore
- Claudia A. Grimaldi * ** + >
- Rohan C. Grumberg
- Cooper B. Guzy
- Devon K. Guzy * **
- Emma R. Haertel
- Benjamin F. Hamm * ** +
- Zachary Harbinger ***
- Tyler M. Harrigan
- Sofia Leila Hartmark ***
- Eamonn M. Hayes * **
- Tyler Hayes ^
- Robert Sullivan Hazaz
- Charlie C. He * **
- Ginger Rose Hebert ***
- Connor Matthew Heineman * **
- Keith James Heineman * **
- Illumirosa Heras * **
- Alfred G. Hill, III
- Paul S. Holstein * **
- Conner Michael Holt
- Phoebe A. Hosford * **
- Ruth E. Hotaling * ** +
- Nia G. Hughes ***
- Lilyan Grace Humphrey * ** +
- Claire Catherine Idema ***
- Justice K. Jacobs
- María D’leal Jacobs
- Natalie Anne Jada ***
- Rayne Jamieson
- Daniel C. Jantson * ** +
- Carson J. Jensen * **
- Eric B. Jestel * ** +
- Sasha Elizabeth Jo * **
- Jack E. Johannesen
- Frances J. Johnson * **
- Max Fischer Kaback * **
- Vijayasree Kakarala * **
- Archisha Sai Kancha *** >
- Kenan Kanic * **
- Abraham Kauffman * ** >
- Landen Dean Kawczak
- John Francis Van Duyne Keeffe * **
- Ryan Patrick Kegg
- Omer Said Keles ***
- Nisa Kendir
- Christopher R. Kienle ***
- Lauren Elyse Kinn
- Andrew W. Kirby * ** >
- Irely R. Knox ***
- Corey James Knuth
- Liam James Koch * **
- Charles H. Koota
- Nathaniel Zev Koplik * ** +
- Sydney Carsan Kowalsky ***
- Elizabeth Christine Krege ***
- Alexa Mae Krueger
- Ava Sophia Krupa
- Cella Sophia Labarge * ** +
- Ava Marie LaClair
- Isabel L. Landers ***
- Aviva J. Landsman-Kaufhold ***
- Henry A. Lane * **
- Sofia K. Langlois ***
- Ka Yee Lee * ** >
- Matti Carl Leväsalmi ***
- Sasha R. Levin * **
- Aimee Olivia Lewis * **
- Isabel Barcia Lippold *** >
- Jake Lippold * **
- Emma Liu * ** +
- Margaret A. Livingston
- Connor M. Longtin * **
- Emma C. Losee
- Maren Mae Louridas * ** +
- Karina Lozano
- Elizabeth A. Maher ***
- Eva Mane ***
- Carson J. Manning
- Logan Manziano
- Julia Cafferty Martelle * **
- Kevin Patrick Martone, Jr. * **
- Paige Mazula
- Jacob M. McAllister ***
- Lauren M. McCabe ***
- Emily P. McCann * **
- Colton R. McDermith * **
- Katherine Elizabeth McKenna * **
- Michael P. McManus, III
- Kaeden M. McMullen-McCormick
- Rael James McRee ***
- Grady F. McSharry
- Katrina Elizabeth Medert
- Alamdar Ali Meghani
- Peter Mertik
- Daniel Middendorf
- Viera N. Midgette * ** + >
- Colin Matthew Mikulski * ** +
- Lily Claire Kim Millard * ** +
- Christian M. Minnicks
- Peter J. Moffre
- John S. Molinsek * **
- Michael Patrick Moloney
- Taylor K. Momrow ***
- Nicholas Dewey Mongue ***
- Alex M. Montalvo
- Conor A. Mooney
- Emma Rose Moore
- Nicholas James Morin-Wrubel
- Shelby Amanda Morin
- Anthony L. Morrison
- Sarah E. Mueller
- Elizabeth Grace Mullen ***
- Jeremy R. Munn, Jr.
- Connor B. Murphy
- Richard William Myers * **
- Elizabeth Grace Nagy * **
- Katherine Mary Nagy * **
- Heera K. Narang * ** + >
- Abigail J. Nautel * ** + >
- Sarah Elizabeth NeJame * ** +
- Jeevan Ayyagari Nigam * **
- Grady M. Noonan * **
- Ayla Noor ***
- Arieanna Nicole Norfleet * **
- Tyler C. Novak * **
- Cassidy C. O’Brien * **
- Dean J. O’Brien * **
- Kaitlin M. O’Meara * ** + >
- Margaret O’Neill * **
- Sage Cassidy Obernesser
- Kalin Carol Oelkers
- Serena Marie Okoniewski * ** +
- Maire P. Owens * **
- Finn Nicholsen Pachter
- Jianna Therese Paggao * ** >
- Brendan Christopher Pajak * **
- Darius J. Palange ***
- Max J. Palat * ** +
- Anushka Bimal Patel * ** +
- Cooper Patschureck ^
- Lola A. Paul
- Jessica E. Pauley
- Abigail Grace Paulsen * **
- Oriana Arwen Peatross
- Ian T. Penfield * **
- Claire Peretta * **
- Roman Anthony Perrotto
- Lindsay Nicole Pierce * ** +
- James R. Pillittere
- Maria M. Pocorobba * **
- Isaac E. Pokat * **
- Maya Kamille Probeck * ** +
- Avery Jane Proper ***
- Margaret E. Proper * **
- Andrew R. Provera
- Acey L. Puccio * **
- Alyra M. Rain * **
- Connor T. Raleigh * **
- Alex Ramos
- Ashrith K. Rao *** >
- Ryan J. Reynolds * **
- George K. Rhatigan
- Isabella Rose Richards * **
- Vincent Rigney
- Madison L. Robbins * **
- Bodie Patrick Rocklein * **
- Caitlyn E. Roddy * ** +
- Starr J. Rodriguez
- Ava Sophia Roe ***
- Griffin A. Roeder * **
- Ethan Nathaniel Rosenblum * **
- Madeline Claire Rounds ***
- Mason P. Rowe * ** +
- Matan M. Ruggiero
- James W. Russell, III
- Molly E. Russom * **
- Jake A. Ruud * **
- Ciara B. Ryan * ** >
- Nora Grace Samson ***
- Stella Sanles * **
- Jake Andrew Santaski ***
- Daniel Santiago ***
- Dylan Saunders
- Madison E. Scheilding * **
- Logan C. Schmidt
- Ethan Noah Schoenblum * ** +
- Christine Lynne Schrempf * ** +
- Allison Kelly Seebode * **
- Natalie Laurén Sevilla-Lane * **
- Rahul K. Sharma ***
- Andi-Grey E. Sheingold * **
- Lucas Carter Sheraw
- Katherine Blake Shudt * **
- Mollie Jessica Silver * **
- Ishaan Singh * **
- Sarah Singh * ** + >
- Caleb D. Sink * ** +
- Madison Sinuc * **
- Gracie Lynn Skultety ***
- Claudia Nicole Skuza ***
- Claire Ann Smith * ** >
- Albert Marton Snyder ***
- Rosamond Sophia Soka * **
- Joanne O. Somide * ** >
- Lauren A. Sorrentino ***
- Emily Kate Spada * **
- Megan Elizabeth Sparks * **
- Timothy Robert Spore * **
- Grace Isabella Stelmaszyk * **
- Ava Stickan * **
- Gordon Su * ** + >
- Ella Selin Surmeli * ** + >
- Jack Edward Sutliff
- Dylena Marie Swann ***
- Sarah B. Syed *** >
- Katie H. Taffe * **
- Ryan V. Taffe ***
- Alexander Caden Thomas
- Justice O. Thomas
- Etta Thornton * ** +
- Brandon J. Tice
- Jared G. Tice
- Jack Tichman
- Emiliano Torlasco *** >
- Emily Rose Towle * **
- Riley A. Travis
- Ella Traynor * **
- Johnson Trowbridge
- Grace Elizabeth Monica Truchard * **
- Camryn Danielle Tutunjian
- Caitlin Grace Valerian * ** +
- Emma Madeleine Charlotte Bleecker VanLuven * ** + >
- Juliette Anne Arline Bleecker VanLuven * ** + >
- Sarah Katherine VanSchaick * **
- Katerina A. Van Steele * ** +
- Matthew Vichaiwattana
- Victoria Sergeevna Voronina * **
- Lindsey E. Waters
- Ali K. Weatherly
- Jessica Angeline Weinert
- Julia Quinn Weinert * **
- Megan B. Whitbeck * **
- Elle-Sophia R. Wilber * **
- Ezra Schoen Winston * **
- Jackson T. Woods
- Haley M. Wright ***
- Michael Xie * ** +
- Tao Xie * ** +
- Ela Yucel * ** + >
- Jaden G. Zapatka
- Helen Zheng * **
- Jeremy Zheng * **
- Winny Zheng
- Daniel Zhou * ** + >
- Tomer Zilberberg