14 students graduating from Keene Central’s class of 2024 | News, sports, work

The sun will shine on Keene Central School’s class of 2024 on Friday. (Corporate Photo – Delainey Muscato)

KEENE VALLEY — Keene Central School District Superintendent Daniel Mayberry thanked Mother Nature for allowing the sun to shine on 14 graduating seniors Friday as they walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.

Mayberry said that at the bottom of his email signature is the phrase: “Communication is at the heart of most problems and solutions in our lives.”

He talked to students about the importance of communication. He asked students questions about how they communicated and would communicate to show how many problems in their lives would arise and be solved through communication.

“Always think about how you communicate” he said. “Step outside of yourself and put yourself in the shoes of the people with whom you share information.”

Mayberry emphasized the importance of clear, fact-based and respectful messaging. He encouraged students to surround themselves with good communicators and assured them that they had the skills to help others become good communicators.

Envy Coffin, a former Keene Central School student, was remembered at her graduation following a tragic accident in February 2023. (Enterprise photo by Delainey Muscato)

Mayberry also took a few moments to address an empty chair on stage, dressed in a cap and gown. Last February, Envy Coffin died in an accident. Coffin attended KCS from kindergarten through first grade in elementary school. The heart-shaped pillow that sat on her seat took a trip to Europe last summer with the Class of 2024. Pins were placed on the pillow at each place they visited. The graduating class remembered Coffin throughout their journey, throughout their senior year and on their graduation day.

For the first time in KCS history, graduates who received their diplomas had identical grade point averages, accurate to the nearest thousandth: 94.64.

Pia Morrelli thanked her teachers and friends for being named co-valedictorian and told her classmates about the dangers of negativity clouding the best aspects of life.

“As an older person, you have experienced many goodbyes and departures, which can be very distressing” she said.

Morrelli cited statistics from the National Science Foundation that show that, on average, 80% of our thoughts are negative.

On Friday, student Pia Morrelli speaks to her classmates at graduation. (Corporate Photo – Delainey Muscato)

“Negativity is always around us” she said. “But it’s how you respond that can determine the quality of your life.”

Morrelli warned her classmates not to focus too much on finances. She said money doesn’t buy happiness, encouraging her classmates to do what they love and love what they do.

Morrelli plans to study pre-med at the University of New Hampshire in the fall. She hopes to become a physician assistant.

“Negativity is inevitable, but you can control it yourself. Choose happiness and find the best in every moment.” she said.

Morrelli told her classmates to find ways to stay optimistic as they begin their own journeys in the next four years and beyond.

On Friday, high school student Madison Klotzko will speak to her classmates to celebrate her graduation. (Corporate Photo – Delainey Muscato)

Next up was fellow high school student Madison Klotzko, who spoke to her classmates about the importance and benefits of change.

“Change brings growth, progress and opportunities that spread across the different axes of our lives” she said.

Klotzko will attend SUNY Oneonta in the fall to study biochemistry. She plans to eventually study medicine.

She encouraged her classmates to not be afraid of change and to take leaps of faith, just like she did with New Visions Medical.

“At (KCS), the people around me allowed me to be myself. They didn’t try to change me or my personality.” she said.

Keene Central School art teacher Stacey Van Campen delivers the commencement address Friday after graduation. (Corporate photo by Delainey Muscato)

Klotzko stated that she was shy growing up, but her classmates still found a way to include her in the action. She loved taking photos of her classmates and earned the title of class photographer.

“Slowly, over time, (my friends) started pushing me, little by little, and they broke down my shyness.” she said.

Though she is a separate person, Klotzko said each of her classmates passed on to her certain aspects of themselves that she will always carry with her.

“I only know what has surrounded me for 15 years” said about the students’ upcoming trips.

Klotzko encouraged her classmates not to avoid change but to embrace it because it often leads to great things.

Keene Central School’s Class of 2024 celebrates their graduation Friday. (Corporate Photo by Delainey Muscato)

The Class of 2024 has selected KCS art teacher Stacey Van Campen to deliver the graduation speech.

Dressed in a sparkling gold dress, Van Campen told students about the toolkit they should take with them on their journey.

“Tools are self-awareness and humility, purpose, passion and courage” she said.

She talked in detail about each tool and encouraged students to refine these tools as they developed.

Van Campen encouraged students to dream big.

“When you allow yourself to see bigger dreams, you can start to get your bearings and start taking small steps forward.” she said.

KCS Principal Robert J. Woughter presented awards and scholarships to the students. Of the 14 graduates, 13 received a scholarship or award, and many received them multiple times.

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