NORTH BRUNSWICK – Although the graduates of North Brunswick Township High School (NBTHS) have undergone a tough few months, dealing with the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, missing prom and not finishing out the school year with their friends, they were still treated to a few surprises during their virtual graduation.
Tim Howard, a 1997 graduate and professional soccer superstar, shared a special message during the June 17 broadcast.
“I know 2020 has been a trying year, but it’s one you will always remember because it’s your year,” he said. “You faced social injustice, a pandemic, and many other things, but through it all you triumphed. You’re here today.
“The future is ahead of you and brighter than ever. You can go into the world, higher education, workforce, traveling the world, community projects all over New Jersey and America and the world, and you’ll be better for it and you’ll be successful because you’re from North Brunswick.”
Howard said some of his fondest memories are walking through the halls of NBTHS, and that some of his friends from then are still his best friends today. He said to take the priceless memories of high school with you going forward.
“I’m with you. I am honored and blessed to have the chance to be among you and to be counted as one of you,” he said.
The students also received a virtual surprise from the New York Giants. Quarterback Daniel Jones, guard Will Hernandez, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and linebacker Blake Martinez shared special messages for the Class of 2020.
The video opened with the voice of Director of Guidance Kevin Farrell stating, “North Brunswick Township High School: your alma mater, the place where you grew from a child to an adult. 2020 was supposed to be your year, everything senior year had to offer, the culmination of years of schooling, so many experiences to be had – but the world changed.”
As a slideshow began, Farrell reminded the graduating seniors their hard work did not go unnoticed and that staff members hope students smile as they reflect on all the good times.
“As you leave, know that you made your mark at NBTHS, and the time to take your next step is now,” he said.
Valedictorian Sidharth Bejugama acknowledged the tumultuous events of the past few months during his speech.
“Well, here we are, back where it all began, in our living rooms, bedrooms and basements, graduating. We are graduating with less freedom than the day we walked in as freshman. We are engaging with the world from 6 feet away.
“We relied on Netflix and Zoom meetings way too much for our entertainment purposes. We developed an unhealthy relationship with our old friend and adversary Google Classroom. We not only eat because we’re hungry, we started eating because we’re bored.
“We are living through a convoluted, conflicted and chaotically crazy part of history. We’re living through a rising revolution, countless individuals affected by the physical coronavirus, while millions more are affected by its social, economical, racial and ethnic implications.
“They are the members of society that few choose to acknowledge until times get tough. They are those unable to hold onto family businesses and put food on their family tables.
“Those unable to seek necessary care in our country’s profit-seeking hospitals, due to the religion they follow or their economic status. Those unable to breathe because of the color of their skin. Those we were previously watching from outside until the virus put us all under the same roof.
“We are now them. But like the American Revolution of 1776, like the Civil War of 1863, and the riots and protests of 2020, Americans fight back when they hit the wall and have little left to lose. They take great steps to inspire powerful change.”
Bejugama said the Class of 2020 has an advantage in this revolution. He said students have developed tactics as diverse as the high school. He told his fellow classmates to look past white, black or brown; to look past the hijabs and mehndi; to appreciate what is behind the skin, “to know that all of our perspectives make each of us richer.”
He asked his peers to listen instead of argue, understand instead of fighting, and be human to one another.
“We are all composed of the things we have learned from each other. We are forever curious because we seek to discover the hidden aspects from the people around us. We sway from the expected path because we are driven by the innumerable goals and ambitions of our peers,” he said.
“North Brunswick has had the privilege of having our minds and hearts for the better part of 18 years. Now, it’s time for the rest of the world to experience all we have to offer,” he aid.
He told his friends to never compromise their beliefs or morals; to retain their individuality, and to use that power to bring together individuals of all kinds; and to urge others to be themselves.
“Be strong willed, open minded and ruthlessly loving. Don’t be better, be the best,” he said.
Salutatorian Rima Peddi said with every sports win, every club joined, every friend met and every teacher loved, students created “small, spontaneous and sincere moments.”
“When we first walked through those glass doors, we were nervous, scared and definitely a little lost. We had no idea what we were doing. But over the past four years, every one of us experienced a moment when the feeling of fear and anxiety were replaced with feelings of excitement, joy and pure adrenaline.
“…With every new memory, every activity and every person we fell in love with, we felt a little less lost and we found our way, and not without some unforgettable adventures along the way.”
She said although she does not know when things will feel normal again, students should not hold their breath, should not wait, but instead do things that are right here and right now.
“Don’t compromise when it comes to things you love and the person you are,” she said.
Princess Boachie delivered the Senior Class Address, joking at first how freshman year there were scary clowns on the loose, there was a gas leak during sophomore year that almost burned down the school, junior year was met by a mold infestation, and as seniors everyone had to deal with COVID-19.
“We make circumstances that could bring us down lift us up – and laugh about it,” she said.
She said her fellow classmates have a lot of future potential. She said “the struggle was real” but they made it. She asked them to keep a positive and optimistic attitude in the future.
“I know sometimes things can get rough and difficult. We are people who work hard and are dedicated,” she said.
North Brunswick Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack remarked to the Class of 2020: “This year your graduation means more to our township than usual. Your graduation is both symbolic and concrete proof that even in the continuing midst of a crisis that interrupts, upends and disrupts our lives, we do have the ability to overcome, to move forward.
“… In these few short months, the members of this class have been called upon to sacrifice like no other in recent generations, and you have been called to heroic service … to lead our country and the world to stand up and take action and acknowledge Black Lives Matter,” he said.
While Womack noted this is the only class to have worn masks, Gloria Gonzalez, president of the North Brunswick Board of Education, said this pandemic cheated students of many rites of passage.
“We all realize we could not make it look and feel as you had dreamt this day to be,” she said. “We are comforted by knowing that wherever you go you will bring a resilience and a commitment to make things right again, that you will face this world of pandemics and social injustice as you will stand tall …
“That you, the Class of 2020, will forever be remembered in history for empathy, collaboration and social justice … in the middle of a global pandemic. Thank you for being our inspiration.”
Principal Michael Kneller said despite the turn of events this year, the seniors will still keep fond memories of sports teams making school history, homecoming dances, ArtStock, Powder Puff games, the Key Club Carnival, pep rallies, decorating the school for the holidays, and doing the Conga Line at a chorus concert – also applauding the Class of 2020 for being the first to beat the teachers in the annual student-staff basketball game.
“Time will pass and someday you will look back on how those relationships helped shape who you have become,” he said.
“Our society needs future leaders. Each of you has the opportunity to make positive changes in our surroundings and our society. I hope you will embrace that as you are our future.”
After Kneller certified the Class of 2020, he presented them to Superintendent of Schools Brian Zychowski before each student had his or her opportunity to cross the stage.
“It is my belief the Class of 2020 is ready and willing to foster advances in society, science, engineering and business, all the while being guided by a set of ethical principles learned and being reinforced at NBTHS,” Zychowski said.
He said the students will adapt their potential into application, and will transform the integrity of their training and purity of moral path into something that will shape their lives.
“I believe your generation has educated us that progress without humanity, without equity, without accessibility and without sustainability is material advancement overshadowed by spiritual recession,” he said.
He said this generation will learn from the mistakes of prior generations, and will accept responsibility and “be the change.”
“I have no doubt you can and will make a difference in the future,” he said, offering the class the gifts of balance, passion and health.
NBTHS has scheduled an in-person graduation for July 10 as per the governor’s lifted restrictions.
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@newspapermediagroup.com.
***
The graduating Class of 2020 from North Brunswick Township High School:
Zarrar Abbasi
Srivasantha Abbineni*
Amir Abdelnaby
Mohammed Amin Abdul Hamid
Janessa Abreu
Ganesh Acharya
Eric Ackerman*
Hubert Addo
Gaelin Adom
Bushra Aftab
Talha Ahmed
James Alba
Ranna Albrolisy
Jan Alford
Sabih Ali
Aidan Almanzor
Davon Alsbrook
Yasmeen Alshami
Abraham Aluboudi
Sergio Alvarez
Mary Amoako*
Shantel Amoakoah
Ritika Anthony
Kwame Apea-Adubufour
Christopher Arnold
Khushi Arora*
Peter-Fouad Attal
Nayeli Aymat Ramos
Shakur Azeez
Amanda Azer
Adeem Aziz
Kashan Aziz
Ashley Baez
Danievi Baez Mojica
Paulina Baidoo
Maya Bailey
Myles Bailey
Azan Bakar
Nithyasree Balaji*
Olivia Baldwin
Youssef Baniatiyeh
Michael Baradhi*
Keron Barbour
Jada Barnes
Lovedeep Bassi
Armando Bautista-Mendez
Dania Bayoumi
Leila Bayoumi
Sidharth Bejugama*
Reeme Bendi
Jeremiah Benn
Jayden Bennett
Ramy Berberena
Joanna Bernard
John Berth
Jada Bess*
Jaden Bickers
Laila Birchett
Demonte Blount
Princess Boachie*
Tanya Bonde
Sophia Boni*
Zachary Boni
Jerry DeJesus Bonifacio
Zamir Booker
Yairelys Botiquin
Jonathan Bourdierd
Zaniyah Boykins
Vincent Brancaccio
Christine Brandt
Allison Brower*
Alyssa Brown*
Corey Brown
Raymond Brown
Daniel Bryant
Keris Calhoun*
Zunny Calles Villeda
Jose Camarillo
Adamari Camarillo Lopez
Jose Carrasquillo
Jennifer Carrillo
Adrianna Casas-Vera
Oscar Castanos-Reyes
India Caster
Ryean Castillo Carrillo
Samantha Cathcart
Rosa Ceaca
Varun Chari
Julieanne Chavez
Rohit Chhetri
Seairah Chiles*
Azfar Chowdhury
Sarah Clarke
Matthew Cole
Amanda Collado*
Kassidy Connelly
Chas Cooper
Matthew Cooper
Tamara Cortez
Ruben Cruz
Samuel Cruz*+
Yaduani Cruz Cristobal
Nishika D’Souza
Ajay Dalal
Aniya Darko
Nilanjan Datta
Vaibhavi Dave
Julia Davies*
Phibi De Jesus
Estefania De la Rosa Baldobino
Aaliyah DeGeorge
Genesis DeLaCruz Ravello
Christian DeMarco
Avani Deshpande*
Rosa Diaz Rodriguez
Stephanie DiMinno*
Taija Dixon
Jarron Douglas
Kenyar Doyle
Alexis Drew
Laisa Duarte Magana
Michael Duff
Lauren Duffy
Macarena DuQue
Margarita Eid*
Michelle Ekwo
Georges El-Hajj
Mohamed Elhomossy
Christian Elliott Vickerie
Abdelrahman Elsayed
Mahmoud Elzayat
Jeffrey Eng
Stephany Espana
Emely Espinal Liranzo
Jeremy Espinosa Acosta
Natasha Estrella
Badr Ettadlaoui
Tobenna Ezeonu
Adeniyi Fagbewesa
Nicholas Farah
Kyla Farmer*
Dylan Farrell*
Sarah Feggulis
Sarai Feliciano
Aaliyah Feliciano-Lockhart
Emily Feliz Tejada*
Alondra Fernandez
Daniel Fernandez
Kendall Fields
Hector M Figueroa
Ricardo Figueroa
Justin Fisher
Lamar Fitz
Layla Fitz
Jasmine Flanders
Omari Fleming
Katelyn Freebern
Lexiss Frimpong
Pedro Fuentes
Edward Funez
Nicolas Fuschini
Kusum Gandham*
William Garcia
Giselle Garriga*
Nana Genfi
Matthew Girello*
Terrell Gladden
Dylan Glassman
Ruth Gobena*+
Christian Gomez
Cristian Gomez
Kayla Gomez
Luz Gomez Espinal
Michael Gonzalez
Fabian Gonzalez-Asuncion
Joseph Gosner
AshleyMarie Gracia
Dah’vaina Graham
Saydi Gravesande
Carolyn Greenberg
Aiyana Guzman
Emily Guzman
Yaziana Guzman
Yiris Haber
Brittany Hague*
TyAndra Hare
Christina Harvey
Kayla Henry
Aidereh Heredia-Rodriguez
Catherine Hernandez
Jimmy Hernandez
Reynaldo Hernandez Sarmiento
Arnaldo Herrera
Dahvey Hicks
Raheem Holmes
Ania Hoo
Sydnee Hopson*
Nyjah Howard
Ahmed Ibrahim
Nadja Ifill
Maha Imran
Iman Iqbal*
Selvin Iraheta-Gutierrez
Yolany Iraheta-Gutierrez
Shayan Ishtiaq Khan
Javed Jabar
Tianna Jackson
Sellu Jalloh
Alhaji Mohamed Jalloh Barrie
Lineth Jaquez
Mariah Jarvis
De’Mi Jenkins
I’Yanah Jennings
Shashuda Jerripotula
Kunal Jha
Yahaira Jimenez Lopez
Fay Jah Johnson
Thomas Johnson
Mark Joseph Jose
Aymen Kabel*
Shrey Kachhia
Siya Kakumanu*
Khyatishree Kalasapati*
Thomas Kaldan
Anthony Kalogridis*
Alphina Kamara
Alusine Kamara
Ansh Kapoor
Ryan Kappes*
Amad Kargbo
Sanmoy Karmakar*
Mark Keene
Kyree Kelton
Abdullah Khan
Amir Khan
Ayesha Khan*
Zinobia Khan*
Imanuella Khanimov
Harris Khawaja*
Drew Kilheeney
Tiffany Klisch
Brooke Koehler
Ava Kouras
Valerie Kozyrenko*
Zachary Kronish*
Zoe Kronish*
Paul Kuchler
Tiffany Kwakye
Xaria La’Mar*
Azja Laberth
Michael Ladjack
Talia Lambert
Sydney Lange
George Lanza-Dubon
Andrew LaVielle
Vernazia Lawson
Hendrix Lekics
Ashley Levitt+
Atharva Lohit*
Jada Long
Olivia Lopez
Christopher Lopez Rojas
Arianely Lovera
Leon Lowery
Kaitlyn Lozewski
Gaurav Mahajan
Amaan Maiden
Holly Mairs
Rachel Maisonet
Malcolm Malone
Katherine Manley*
Adarsh Manoj
Samih Mansour
Kevin Marquez
Alizon Martinez
Sara Masloom
Imaad Masood
Arlene Mateo
Ciera Matlock
Parker Maxwell
Jason McCargo
Tyler McGee-Pidgeon
Jaelyn McIver
Kenneth Mehalick
Damian Miller
Mikyle Mirza
Shayla Mitchell
Shonae Mitchell
Dominic Moccio
Emil Montero
Hamlet Montero
Hillary Montilla Mejia
Bahia Moorman
Brianni Morales
Emely Morales
Eduardo Morales Fiallos
Christopher Morel
Jair Mujica
Pritish Mukherjee
Keshav Mukundhan*
Mayely Munoz
Nikhil Murali
Veena Nagaprasad
Upsham Naik*
Asaru Napier
Gabriel Narciso
Sara Nayyar
Diana Nouel Isa
Gabriel Nunez
Loribel Nunez Benitez
Angel Nunez Toledo
Isaiah Oduro
Emmanuel Olayemi
Caroline Orokos*
Adrian Ortiz
Kevin Ortiz Hernandez
Maria Osorio Fernandez
Alexis Palazzola
Vraj Panchal
Dakshal Panicker
Janiz Parra
Deven Patel
Khushi Patel
Kirtan Patel*
Kush Patel
Leah Patel
Pooja Patel*
Ram Patel
Rishita Patel
Marcus Paul
Roman Paz Gonzalez
Mainor Paz Linares
Rima Peddi*
Juan Pena Alvarado
Chrisbette Penalo
Maria Penaloza Vazquez
Gary Peralta
Kenia Peralta Rodriguez
Tyrell Pereira
Yarissa Perez
Rosa Lia Perez-Olivera
Emma Phelps+
Wally Pichardo
Abrianna Pimentel Garcia
Robby Plaha
Elliott Plyam
Matthew Poonai
Emelyn Pozo Colon
Manasi Prakash*
Raciel Quiroz-Hernandez
Shakib Rahman
Mudassir Rahmani*
Luka Rakonjac
Nikhil Ramavenkat*
Andrew Ramos
Lahari Rani
Danielle Rappolt*
Aarushi Rathaur*
Krishan Rattan
Winnard Franz Ravago
Swarnima Raval
Praneel Reddy
Rachael Reikdal
Daniel Revko
Brenda Reyes
Jonathan Reyes
Antonio Ricardo Reyes
Andrew Richardson
Drew Richardson
Daniel Rivera
Jose Rivera
Joshua Rivera
Nicholas Rivera
Felix Rivera Jr
Paolo Rivera-Pineda
Yudelys Rocha Mendez
Caleb Rodriguez
Emmanuel Rodriguez
Stefan Rojas-Ayala
T’vano Rolle
Melody Roque
Abisola Rosiji
Derek Rossman
Andrew Rudolph*
Kaina Ruiz
Asra Saeed
Mohammed Salheiah
Justine Samson
Leonel Sanabria
Emilio Sanchez Mendoza
Luis Sanchez-Ramos
Leyred Santana
Amelia Santiago
Kate Santillan
Rashel Santos Andino*
Cavin Saravanan
Abdul Wahab Savage*
Karan Sehgal
Pradeep Selvaraj*
Param Sengar
Aayushi Sharma
Pratham Sheth*
Shreni Sheth*
Joseph Sidotti
Jared Silva Dias
Naomi Silva-Valencia
Daniel Simpson*
Erika Sinche Sinchi
Emily Slattery
Sandy Sleiman
Alan Smith
Corey Smith
Trinity Solano
Harold Solano Perez
Justin Soto*
Isaiah Stevens
Mark Stouffer*
Vaishnav Sunkireddy*
Landon Surrency
Ta-Cara Swaby
Matthew Szejnrok
Natalia Szulc
Steve Taboada
Habiba Tamraz
Cory Taylor
Lauren Taylor
Vikram Thirugnanam
Brodie Thompson
Scarlet Tineo
Saumya Tiwari
Courtney Tomaszewski
Sareda Toribio
Christopher Torres
Faith Torres*
Graziella Torres
Kevin Torres
Ulises Torres
Prince Turay
Bianel Urbina
Daniel Urbina-Matos
Jaredis Valentin Rosario
SolAngel Van Liew
Brian Vargas
Terelyn Vargas
Arismely Vasquez
Jason Vasquez
Luis Vasquez
Alberto Vazquez-Rivas
Aaliyah Villalba*
Brandon Villegas
Charles Vizthum
Nora Walling
Alan Wang
Jack Warren
Nakaja Weaver*
Ihsann Whitehurst
Bryce Williams
Niana Williams
Nigel Williams
Lauren Wilson*
Andrew Wilson-Ratliff
Samod Wingo
Courtney Wint
Haillee Witkowski
George Wolfe
Isiah Wright
Ivan Yeddu
Melanie Yi
Christina Yoo
Mona Yousif
*National Honor Society
+Tomorrow’s Teachers
