It was a memorable evening as our Class of 2022 graduates took their final steps onto Walt Whitman’s turf field as high school Seniors. As the sun started to set  in the sky, our 471 seniors found their seats on the field with family and friends cheering from the stands, waving with excitement and anticipation for their bright futures ahead.

Students, guests and family members listened to speeches from Board of Education President Nicholas Ciappetta, District Superintendent Dr. Vito D’Elia, Whitman Principal Ken Costa, and members of the graduating Class of 1957. The two-hour ceremony featured Whitman’s Senior Class President Kevin Rankel, Salutatorian Ryan Rowe, and Valedictorian Joshua Alms, who each addressed their classmates, marking this new chapter in their young lives and encouraging one another to enjoy each moment. The ceremony also included the Walt Whitman Symphony Orchestra, led by Mr. Matt Hoffman and Mr. Frank Yolango, ushering the Seniors in the beginning and conclusion of the ceremony.

“You have a solid education empowering you to reach limitless potential, you have the courage of your convictions to challenge boundaries and obstacles that stand before you, you have the passion to dream, heart to love, and the strength to endure,” Walt Whitman High School Principal, Mr. Ken Costa, addressed his graduates.“ As you stand poised to enter the next chapter of your life, we hope that you have faith in the world, challenge injustice, embrace your strengths, and admit your failings. Value all that you’ve been taught, and definitely, know your own value.”

While this is the 92nd Commencement Ceremony for South Huntington Schools, it was 65 years ago that the first class of Walt Whitman High School graduated. Original Walt Whitman High School graduates joined us at this year’s ceremony to offer their congratulations and well wishes to the Class of 2022.

“We have always treasured our Whitman education and the privilege of being the first class to graduate. Now, 65 years laters, it is your turn to uphold the Whitman traditions of excellence.” shared Whitman’s 1957 graduates, Edna and Beatrice. “You have received a first rate education from excellent, dedicated teachers. Our brief advice to you is to build on this foundation, continue learning, develop wisdom, and act with integrity and kindness.”

“Use your experiences and education as a foundation for you to inspire, educate, and give back to your community,” Principal Costa shared. “Your spirit and perseverance resonate with the hearts and minds of those with us today.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

Joshua Alms, Ryan M.T. Rowe, Sergio A. Acajabon+, Kailee Rose Adomaites*+, Arnold Aguilera+, Asma Ahmad, Aamna Ahmed*, Ishrar Ahmed, Angelina Akdas, Emily Alas, Hannah Rose Albert, Armany Alfaro*+^, Enoc Alfaro Rivas, Kaitlyn Louise Allen^, Bryana Alvarado Bardales, Wilfredo Alvarenga, Desiree Alexis Alvarez, Jesse Alvarez+, Kaylin Rosaura Alvarez, Matthew Andersen, John R. Andreoni*+, Judith Anne Anest*+, Michael John Anest, Kenia Aparicio Cisneros, Carla Y. Araujo, Fatima C. Argueta Giron, Wilfredo Argueta Saravia, Trent Artz, Henry Asencio, Daud Aslam, Connor Asma, Andrew Avila, Rafel Azhar, James Baires, Niraj Balu, Jerry Banegas Vanegas, Yensi Barahona Cruz, Brianna M. Barthold*+, Megan D. Barton+, Donald Edward Basedow III*, Gabrielle Nicole Bausano*+, Natalie Ann Bausano*+, Xavier Beard, Alexa H. Beaubrun*, Rebecca Maria Beickert*+, Imgmer Benitez, Juliet Berger, Dev Bhardwaj, Benjamin William Bianco, Maya Rose Biblow*+, Emelia Bitonti*+, Seth E. Blaise, Marisa Luz Bobal*+^, James Boccone*+, Maximilian Q. Boise, Kelya D. Bonilavri+, Christopher G. Bonilla Funez+, Nicholas Gino Bottoni*+, Garrison Bouchard-Ferdon*+, Ryan Margaret Bronsky, Ella Rose Brower, Maria Brown, Matthew Brown, Thea Brown, Mia Brunetti*+, Valeria P. Bruzual Mendoza*+B, Zachary Bukoski, Tomas Cabrera Vargas, Ryan Nicholas Caldwell, Nicholas Anthony Campanelli*+, Yenifer Campos Saravia, Jaislyn Campos Trejos, Antonio Canales, Francisco Canales, Jerry Canales, Cindy Canales Alvarado, Briant Cantaderio Martinez, Carlos E. Cantillo Jiminez, Brayan Carbajal Perez, Ariany Carcamo Moradel, Jazmin E. Cardenas- Arias, Zyriah Ciré Cardwell, Anthony J. Carino*+^, Chelsea Carino, Giovanni Cartisano*, Jack Cary, Haylee Brooke Caserta+^, Leonardo Estaban Castro*+, Javier Castro Alas, Angel Fernando Catalan Hernandez, Steven Chacoz Gomez, Joseph Leo Chandler, Joshua V. Chandre*+, Mahhek J. Chaudhry*+B^, Kellyn Chavez, Omar Chavez Aparicio, Kristy Lynne Chillemi*+, Aiyana Chisholm*+, Aniya Chisholm, Anthony Chiusano, Ziyad Choudry*, Jennifer Cisneros, Anthony Collado, Keira Grace Conlon*+, Owen William Connolly*+^, Brooke Nicole Connor*+, Brianna Nicole Conroy*, Gianna Marie Conte*+^, Keneth Contreras Zavala, Christian G. Cornejo, Richard Cortes, James G. Cowlishaw, Guadalupe Cruz, Jose Cruz, Nelson Cruz, Nicholas Cruz, Darwin Cruz Flores, Abner Cruz Lopez, Rosa Mariela Cruz Serrano+, Liam Thomas Curtin*+, Benjamin D Agostino*, Brian Gregory Dammer, Nadine June Davi, Christopher Paul Davis, Ryan William Davis*+, Daniel De Bruin*+, Diego De Leon De Leon, Martha Gabriela De Los Santos*, Adriana Michelle DePrisco*+, Joseph M. DeRobertis, Kerri Christina Delaney*+, Gianna Nicole Dennis, Andrew J. Diaz-Luna, Kathryn Grace Donovan*+, Michnaydine Dor Joseph, Frank Joseph Doria, Gabriella Dowling*, Ira Siddhantakar Dubey*+^, Mency Dubic, Molly Elizabeth Dugan*+, Mary Teresa Earley, Ahmad Elfeky*, Logan Elmore*, Marissa Joy Emanuele, Michael Anthony Emanuele, Amanda G. Esposito*+, Adia Maria Estévez*, Melanie Estevez Garcia, Selena Estrada, Allen J. Evans III, Jack Raymond Fallon*+, Kellan M. Farrell, Thomas J. Fazio, Brooke Feinman*, Joseph F. Fico, Alexandra Rose Fink*+, Victoria Fiorelli*+, Steven Flores, Yajaira Flores Medina, Keydi Flores Sorto, Ethan Ford, Jasmine Fradera, Kyle Freedman Avena, Lila Freire*+, Enelda Fuentes Cruz, Alexandra Marie Fullerton*+^, Alexis Galant+, Edward Galant, Ryan Francis Gannon*+, Angel L. Garcia Jr., Gia Garcia, Jennifer Garcia, Yefri Garcia Campos, Joshua Isaias Garcia Diaz, Jeylin Guadalupe Garcia Ortez, Alexandra Elizabeth Gardez, Belendjy Geneus+, Isabelle Rose Geribon-Sass*+, Joseph Gervasio, Jeremy Glover, Jovahny Glover, Jaidyn F. Goldis*, Jefri Jose Gomez Diaz, Kaylee N. Gomez Sanchez, Kayla Gonzales*+, Gabriel J. Gonzalez*+, Katerin Gonzalez Hernandez, Karla Gonzalez Robles, Emily Gorecki, Kelly Granados, Nicholas Donald Greco, Justin R. Grillo*+, Erica  Guaman Chogllo, Timothy Gudaitis, Tatiana Guevara*+, Sergei Gulaksizov, Joseph Bryce Gurba*+, David M. Haller+, Fiona Hamilton*+, Matthew B. Hansen, Ryan D. Hansen*+, Kyle Haritonides, Michael Harrison, Lorely Ava Hassman+B, Liam Ryan Heather, Serena M. Heddell, Jordan Matthew Henkel*+, Andrew Hernandez, Ary Nathlie Hernandez, Evelyn Nevaeh M. Hernandez, Jimmy J. Hernandez Reyes, Katerin Hernandez Sorto, Cesar Herrera Garzon, Dahyana Herrera Salazar*+, Henry Hidalgo, Liam Matthew Hill*+^, Victoria Lynn Hocknell*+, Kate M. Hoffman*+, Jonathan Connor Holleran*+, Isaiah Jonathan Holm+, John Peter Hoppe*+, Rebecca Jean Horner*+, Dominik Hudak, Joseph Domenic Iazzetta, Bethany Michele Ilnitzki+, Jessybeth Infante, Gianna Marie Inga*+, Jasmin Marie Iraheta Bautista, Bianca Isernia*, Victoria Rose Isernia*+^, Matthew Thomas Italo*+, Brandon Ivy, Jamie Jaco Garay, Sarah Lyn Jacoutot*+, Angel Jandres Sanchez, Duglas Jandres Saravia, Joshua Jaramillo, Lens Jean Pierre, Akash Joshi+, James Joy, Ahmad Kakar, Gabriel Abraham Kaloo*+, Luke Alexander Kannavos*+, Nathaniel Karpinos, Alyssa Sunil Katwala*+, Paige Nicole Kessler*+, Grace Caroline Knakal+, Benjamin M. Koch+, Amelia Lynae Kongevold*+, Cortney Jade La Bella*+, Ta'Tiãnna M. Lane, Salma Laraki*+B^, Violet Joy Le Claire*+, Jennifer Lemus, William Lemus, Joshua Lewis, Kelsey-James Limbacker, Gabriella Nicolette Linares+, Amy Linares Rincon, Kristina Rose Lineen*+^, Christian Lizama, Jordan Rose Logue*+, Adrian Christian Londono, Leidy Lopez Benitez, Mersi Lopez Carias, Marilin Lopez Fuentes, Jessica Lorenzo Dominguez, Carlos Abel Lulu- Abad, John Lewis Lupton, Olivia Marie Macchiarola*+, Ashley A. Magee*+, AnnaMaria Maguire, Mathew Maldonado, Jonathan Maldonado Gonzalez, Lana Marie Maniatis*+^, Jennifer Manzanares, Esteban R. Maraboli*+, Alejandra Marcia Soler, Andrew B. Markell*+, Matthew Marrone, Stephen Charles Marrone, Cristian Marroquin, Natalie Gisell Martinez, Olivia Kay Martinez*+, Taysean Massenburg, Juan Mata Flores, Alianna Alicia Mauro*+, Nicholas Mauro, Tyriek Mays Mckoy, Kasey Mc Ardle*+, Kate Louise McAuley*+, Connor Charles McCall*+, Jake Dylan McCloskey, Sarah M. McDowell*+, Carly McEntee*+^, James Vincent McGorry, Daniel Thomas McGowan Jr., Patrick Mc Hale*+, Angelina McMullen, Alex David Mejia, Matthew Mejia, Diana Mejia Montano, John Derek Melendez Sangurima, Aron John Mendez, Ashley E. Mendez, Emerson Mendez Mercado, Julia Mendoza+, Paola Mendoza Reyes, Kevin Meza Aparicio, Jose Meza Garcia, Luis Meza Garcia, Peter Milankovic, Tatiana Miranda, Trinity Molina, Alexander Molina Vasquez, Anthony Montanez, Keiry Morales Aparicio, Wendy Morales Cruz*B, Nicole E. Moreira Crespo, Dayana Moreira Jaramillo, Jessie A. Moreno, Jose M. Moreno, Brianna Eleanor Morrissey*+, Declan Terrance Motherway*, Anabelle E. Muellers*+, Vincent James Muller, Liam Thomas Murphy*+, Meghan Murray*, Raymond Anthony Nazario Jr.+, Christopher Negron, Jace Cullen Nerzig, Jada Nguyen+, Aniya Janea Nicholson, Wayde O Brien, Charlotte O Hara*+, Grady Sean O'Loughlin, Jensen Offerman Sylvestre, Eliazar Olivarez Cahueque, Dylan Orantes, Anthony Michael Orgera*+, Vanessa Osorto, Ceylan Oz, Maria Federica Paiva+, Evangelia Palazzo, Sarah J. Palladino*+, Neil Joseph Palmieri III+, Jason Parada*+, Delaney Parlante*+, Domenick Jiovanni Pastore, Gianna Paul*+^, Silvana Pawa*+, Bryan Peyser, Michael Peter Phillips*+, Tyler Andrew Phillips*+, Dawny Pineda Lopez, Kadence Pipota, Anthony Portillo Gomez, YiMei Potzinger*, Yousaf Qamair+, DaXuan Qin, Herber Quijano, Murid A. Quorishi+, Laiba Qureshi, Haseeb Raja, Maria Ramirez Diaz, Elton Ramirez Santos, Kinvily Ramirez Vasquez, Christopher Anthony Ramos*+, Noah Michael Ramos*+, Kevin M. Rankel*+, Esha Rehman, Ever Renderos Moreira, Angie Gabriella Reyes, Franco Reyes, Rachel Reyes, Ruben Antonio Reyes, Daniel Rich, Monica Y. Rios Reyes*+^, Tyler Ritchie, Oscar Rivas Henriquez, Alexia E. Rivera, Alexa M. Rivera, Jaden Rivera+^, Kylie Rocks, Marilyn Rodriguez, Joseph Rodriguez Valdez, Tyler M. Rojan+, James R. Roldos, Luis Angel Roman Jr., Luca Rombaldi*+, Diego Anthony Romero, Kevin Romero Rosillo, Anthony Peter Rossero, Mason Eric Rudnick*, Bianca Monica Russell*+, Ryan Rynkowski, Manuel Sagastizado, Marie Carsley Saint Charles, Samantha Salazar+, Leidy N. Salazar Lopez+, Mahum Saleem, Jose Sanchez Magana+, Joan Sanchez Urdunes, Bianca Annabella Santaromana+, Julia Santiago, Michelle Santos, Nicolas D. Saunders, Nicholas J. Scala, Zachary Ryan Scarfogliero, William John Schiller III, Daniel Hearns Schlansky*+, Quinlan Sellars, Ethan Jacob Shapiro*+, Angela Shedlow*+, Mahsa F. Sheikh, Jesse Shtino, Christopher Silverio, Thomas Silverman+, Trey Parker Simpson, Sean Smith, Briana Sorto Gomez, Henri Sorto Guevara, Daniella Sotello Guardado+, Adrian Spencer, Gracyn A. Speter*+, Mia Stampfel*+^, Jaden Lantier Stark, Kira Jean-Marie Steffen*, James Vito Steigerwald, Martin T. Stone, Jamie Suazo, Arden Bond Supek*+, Dylan Patrick Symons, Abigail Barbara Tavera*+, Adriana Teran Villamar+B, Dylan Cole Thody*+, Rasahn Amari Thompson*, Joseph Xavier Tonna, Erin Nicole Torres+, Jai-Anthoni Torres, Ramiro Torres, Eddy Tum Bran, Faith Tyburski*, Jahida Uceda, Tanya Renee Uceda, Marilyn Ulloa Diaz, Keisy Valencia, Andres Valencia Castaneda*, Roberto Vasquez Aparicio*+B, Angel Vega, Abigail Velazquez, Ireny Veliz Garcia*+, Jillian Vesque*+, Kayli Villalta*, Liam Michael Villanti*+, Jennifer Vilorio*+, Dylan William Vincent*+, Michael Vitoria, Jason Ward, Jonathan Ward, Alexander R. Weber+, Christian James Weber, Alexandra Wheeler, John Williams, Samuel Williams, Morgan Ella Wobig*+,  Ashli Elizabeth Wuss*+, Alvin Yam, Sabrina Yam+, Matthew L. Zappulla, Zimo Zhong*+

*National Honor Society
+Principal’s List
B-Seal of Biliteracy
^AP Capstone

**Photo Gallery**

Walt Whitman's Senior Class Officers ready to walk across the commencement stage.

“The road you choose should include three essential things: opportunity, effort and perseverance,”  Principal Costa shared with his graduating seniors.

Board of Education President, Nicholas Ciappetta, welcomed families and friends of our graduates to join in well deserved congratulations.

Walt Whitman High School Class of 1957 graduates, Edna and Beatrice, addressed this year’s graduating class with well wishes.

Class of 2022 Valedictorian, Joshua Alms, shared his perspective with his peers and guests in attendance.

Students took their turn walking across the stage to receive their diplomas at the beautiful evening ceremony.

It is a bright future ahead for our graduates.

Congratulations, Class of 2022!!