Clarence School News
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CLARENCE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWSLETTER • GRADUATION ISSUE • JULY 2020 Clarence School News Clarence Center • Harris Hill • Ledgeview • Sheridan Hill • Clarence Middle School • Clarence High School Congratulations to the Class of 2020 Additional Profiles of Top Students appear on pgs. 2-5 Valedictorian Salutatorian GRANT GIANGRASSO RYAN LOPEZ Son of Mary Ellen Gianturco and James Grasso Son of John and Pam Lopez Activities: Chrysalis Literary Magazine (Editor-In- Activities: Senior Class Treasurer; The University at Chief ), Boy Scout Troop 27 (Senior Patrol Leader), Buffalo Gifted Math Program; Science Olympiad Wind Ensemble (Trumpet Section Leader), Jazz – President, Treasurer; Scholastic Bowl President Band, Model United Nations (President), Altar (4 yrs); Member – Student Council; Cross Server at Nativity Church, University at Buffalo Country; Outdoor Track; Travel Soccer; Ski Club; Gifted Math Program (Ambassador), Roswell Symphonic Band; Wind Ensemble. Park Summer Research Internship, Superintendent’s Advisory Group, National Volunteer Services: CHS Winter Sleepout (4 yrs); Member – Clarence Youth Honor Society, Science Olympiad (Vice President), Men’s Swim Team, Lifeguard, Bureau; Bald for Bucks participant; Vacation Bible School Counselor; Clarence SCUBA, Sailing. Marching Band; Student Guide for New Teacher Information Day. Volunteer Services: Eagle Scout Project (Audio/Visual Tour at Reinstein Honors: Salutatorian, Graduate of The University at Buffalo Gifted Math Woods), Buffalo General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Meals on Wheels, Program, Science Olympiad Regional Competition Medals (10), AP Scholar with Clarence Food Pantry, Goodwill, Clarence Summer Band/Marching Band, Camp Distinction, RIT Computing Medal Award, Scholar Athlete, High Honor Roll Scouthaven. (4 yrs), Northwestern University Academic Scholarship, University of Rochester Honors: United States Presidential Scholar, Jefferson Scholar, National Merit Deans Scholarship, Miami University of Ohio RedHawk Excellence Scholarship, Scholarship Winner, Eagle Scout with Multiple Palms, New York State Seal Case Western Reserve University Academic Scholarship, RIT Presidential of Biliteracy in Spanish & French (Trilingual), Principal Trumpet of All-State Scholarship, Stony Brook University Presidential Scholarship. Wind Ensemble, Harvard Book Award, Roswell Park Best Scientific Presentation College Plans and Major: Attend Northwestern University, studying Physics and Award, Gannon University Model U.N. 1st Place Delegate Award both 2018 and Astronomy 2019, CHS PTO English Award, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 77 Peter P. Tycz II Memorial Scholarship, Graduate of the University at Buffalo Gifted Future Plans: I plan to become a Ph.D. level physicist and pursue a career in Math Program, Symphonic Band Outstanding Rookie and Outstanding Attitude research. Awards, All-County Band, Scholar Athlete, AP Scholar with Distinction. Personal Statement: At the start of 2020, we were just coming back to Clarence High College Plans and Major: Attend the University of Virginia on the Jefferson School from the chill whimsy of Winter Break. We strode eagerly into the new decade, Scholarship, studying Neuroscience and French. ready to finish out our Senior year in the perfect ways we all imagined and start our post-high school lives. Oh, how naïve we were. Our first forays into adulthood would Future Plans: I plan to become a surgeon. be marred by the world brandishing imperfection after imperfection. Everything we Personal Statement: If one trait defines the Clarence High School Class of 2020, it’s thought our Senior year would be, it was not. It would be easy to wallow in pity and strength. No other word than “strong” quite captures the combination of unwavering resign yourself to merely survive through the imperfections of the world. We are all resolve, perseverance and fortitude that uniquely characterizes this year’s graduates. capable of so much more than that. All our families and friends, classes and clubs, faculty It’s not because they overcame the challenges of balancing difficult classes, succeeding in and staff, coaches and counselors--everyone and everything who was part of our journeys athletic pursuits, leading others and nurturing relationships, always while exhibiting through the Clarence Central School District changed our lives, making us capable of grace under pressure. It’s not even because they conclude the foundational chapter of their so much more than that. Perfection is an impossible standard to achieve, but that’s no lives under extraordinarily demanding circumstances, serving their families, community reason not to strive for it. Imperfection can be viewed as failure. Or imperfection can be and country all while completing their high school education. They did do all this, but viewed as a mirror reflecting back at us, showing us how we can change for the better. the admirable manner in which they face every obstacle is the real reason they embody We have seen the world for what it is. Now it’s time to make the most of it. strength. Clarence’s Class of 2020 learned that strength and optimism not over these last four arduous months, but rather over these last four years, guided by loving family members, expert teachers, dedicated coaches, friends and countless others deserving of thanks. They’ve become accomplished and successful students, artists, athletes, engineers, actors and musicians who have in common a genuine passion for learning. Through their education, they’ve accumulated knowledge and the wisdom to apply it to the common good. So as they venture out into the world, the Class of 2020 is more than prepared to make a positive difference in the boldest way. I can’t wait to witness it. Superintendent’s Class of 2020 Top Students Cont’d. Message MIRANDA BAGAR Daughter of Paul and Jocelyn Bagar This newsletter celebrates the Activities: Scholastic Bowl (Vice President), Latin Club, Student Class of 2020 who individually Council, Hair and Makeup Crew, National Honor Society, Model and collectively reached levels United Nations, Dancer at The Dancing Pointe, Research in the Oral of tremendous success. You can Oncology Lab at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. read the incredibly impressive profiles of our top students, Volunteer Services: Member of the YRoswell youth outreach team. who will be attending some Geoffrey M. Hicks, Ed.D. of the best universities in Honors: AP Scholar Award, NYS Regents Scholarship, 3rd Best Superintendent the nation. For me, the most Delegate at the 2018 Gannon Model U.N. Conference, Rensselaer impressive part of the profiles are the personal statements Medal Award, Gold Medal on the National Greek and Latin Etymology Exam, Magna Cum Laude wherein our students describe the impact Clarence High on The National Latin Exam. School has had on their lives. Those statements honor College Plans and Major: Study Biomedical Engineering with a pre-med track at Washington our teaching staff, athletic and music programs, and University in St. Louis. most importantly, the culture of high expectations in our community. The Class of 2020 had to overcome enormous Future Plans: Pursue a career in medicine. challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal Statement: Consider some of the numbers that define the Class of “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” 2020. Two hundred fifty-three scholarships and other – Jane Goodall awards were distributed to members of this class. Sixty percent of the senior class graduated with an Advanced I cannot imagine a quote that better encompasses what I have learned over the past four years at Clarence Designation Regents Diploma, signifying additional rigor High School, from teachers who inspired me, and pushed me to evolve both as a student and human being, to and coursework. Over ninety percent of the senior class the friends I have lost and gained, who taught me perseverance through tough times, and helped me to find will seek to further their education by attending either a myself. The halls of CHS bore witness to more of my failures than I’d like to admit, my lowest lows; however two or four-year college. Forty-five students in the class through these faults, I learned to keep fighting for the things that matter the most. Do not fear failure, do were graduates of our Academy of Business and Finance, not fear trying over and over again, because eventually you will succeed (quote inspired by D. Smith). Do and twenty-nine students graduated with Project Lead not allow the world to make you feel small, when you were made to be great. Thank you for an unforgettable the Way pre-engineering certification. Four students Senior year amongst an excellent 13 years of education (shoutout to COVID-19)— and especially, have enlisted in the military. Clarence teams won fourteen Congratulations to the historic Class of 2020! league championships and three sectional titles. ALEXANDER CREGO The academic numbers are outstanding, but even more notable are the number of community service hours Son of Ann Marie and Scott Crego completed by the Class of 2020. Over the course of their Activities: National Honor Society President, Future Business Leaders high school career, the class worked a combined 15,091 of America President, Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corp (LVAC) hours of community service, despite the cancellation of EMT and Preceptor, Eagle Scout Troop 664, ACG President, Medical community service when the pandemic