Smithtown HSW Commencement - Congratulations Class Of 2015

West Grads Mark a Milestone Commencement 

 Smithtown High School West held its annual commencement exercises on Robert Pratt Field on June 24, with the Class of 2015 sharing the honor as the district’s 100^th graduating class along with their High School East counterparts.

HSW Principal John Coady thanked parents, Board of Education, central administration and HSW staff, in particular the guidance counselors, for all of the support they have provided the Class of 2015 throughout their four years at West.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Grossane, who is completing his first full academic year at the helm of the Smithtown CSD, also thanked staff and parents. Dr. Grossane shared his own personal sentiments as a parent whose son will also graduate from high school in the coming days.

“It seems like only yesterday I was dropping him off at kindergarten… right parents?” asked Grossane. “How quickly time passes.” A former kindergarten teacher, Grossane also shared how many of the basic life lessons are learned early on in a child’s education can be transferable to adulthood. He left the grads with this: “No matter how old you are, whenever you go out in the world, it’s best to hold hands and stick together.” 

Honored speaker Rebecca Cheng shared her thoughts on success and how often success can be misconstrued by the need to meet unrealistic goals. “Life is about the final success for yourself and understanding that success is a continuous process. There is no one goal in life that will guarantee you happiness if you reach it,” said Rebecca, who touted progress and resiliency as strong indicators of success. She advised that being a kind person and taking a step back and looking at life can get you farther than racing toward a fabricated finish line. 

“Everyone here has the ability to change something they touch,” said Rebecca. “The world won’t change overnight, but we all have the ability to change the world around us in small ways, on a daily basis.”

Class co-presidents Cameron Daleo and Ian Lesnick reminisced about their years in the district, from moving up to middle school to their final days at HSW. They took a moment to turn their backs to the audience to take a selfie with Rebecca and the Class of 2015, seated on the field. 

In keeping with tradition, select seniors from the HSW concert and jazz choirs presented a vocal tribute to their first teachers — their parents — as described by Principal Coady.

Board of Education President Chris Alcure joined Dr. Grossane in presenting the Class of 2015 diplomas. Once the last diploma was awarded, Coady conferred the graduates, and the new HSW alumni turned their graduation tassels before hoisting their caps into the air in celebration. They then departed Pratt Field, embracing family and friends, many bidding farewell as they prepare to write the next chapter for their own stories of success.