Randolph Academy celebrated its graduating seniors on June 23. Dozens of teachers, staff, administrators, board members, family members and classmates cheered on the 11 seniors who received their diplomas, including five at its Hamburg campus in an afternoon ceremony and six at its Randolph campus in the early evening. New York State Regents diplomas were awarded to all but one of the graduates, who earned a local diploma.
Superintendent Danielle Cook led the festivities, along with campus principals Laura Osinski (Hamburg) and Dr. Mary Pauly (Randolph), and many teachers, staff and administrators at each campus.
Mrs. Cook welcomed the families and friends of those in attendance by stating, “It’s often said that it takes a village to raise a child. Today, we’re here to celebrate our graduates – and their villages.”
The keynote speaker for both events was Jason Henry, a supply chain director with ConEdison and a former NYS Assembly legislative aide – and later, NYS Department of Education lobbyist and Chief of Staff. Mr. Henry is the son of Ruth Henry, a Randolph Academy board of education member since 1996. He has overcome a disability of his own – a genetic, degenerative vision condition known as retinitis pigmentosa – throughout his distinguished career. Having found success in life despite his disability, he related to today’s graduates who have all overcome their own challenges to reach this milestone.
“As you enter this next chapter, continue to persevere,” Mr. Henry advised these new alumni. “It might take you a little longer than others to accomplish a task or reach your next goal – and that’s OK.”
In closing his remarks, Hamburg Campus Senior Class President Ryan Hackford called upon the district’s motto quite nicely as he advised, “What I’ve learned here is that this is truly a place ‘where promise grows’ – if you let it.”
The district’s graduating seniors include:
Randolph Campus
Hamburg Campus
