While families, friends and BOCES faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the Resilience Academy’s Class of 2025’s commencement ceremony, students waited anxiously to enter the conference room, chatting amongst themselves and reflecting on who supported them along the way.
“I’m graduating because of Ms. (Sheri) Tompkins. She was always there for me.” shared Kaychanel Bryan. “Anyone who walked into her room with a frown, she always noticed.”
The ceremony was one filled with gratitude and recognition. In her opening remarks, District Superintendent Jodi DeLucia shared that “every milestone, whether quiet or loud, mattered.”
L’Quette Taylor, invited to be the keynote speaker after giving an amazing speech at the Dutchess BOCES Distinguished Graduate Recognition Breakfast, had the crowd laughing, applauding the graduates and nodding along to his valuable advice to the students during his impressive speech. “You have all taken different paths, but now? You’re all at the same starting line again.” shared Taylor. He urged the graduates to utilize their network. Not only the BOCES faculty and staff, but the friends they have made here. “Call each other. Ask questions. Remember to say thank you.”
Graduate and class representative Mattingly Gilmore spoke next, commenting on the inevitability of change, even through its discomfort. “Despite everything that makes us different, one thing that unites us all is change.”
Stephen Blair kicked off the awards and scholarships part of the ceremony, followed by the Dutchess BOCES Education Foundation and Jeff Scalzo, who represented the BOCES Faculty Association:
- TEG Federal credit Union Cathy Romano Writing Award: Mattingly Gilmore
- TEG Overcoming Obstacles Award: Alexandria Rivera
- TEG Good Citizenship Award: Sam Werner
- Annalise Spinelli Memorial Award: Sebastian Gonzalez
- BOCES Educational Foundation Continuing Education Award: Mattingly Gilmore and Sebastian Gonzalez
- BOCES Faculty Association Academic Achievement Awards: Jenna Liguori, Alexandra Rivera and Nick Hughes
When it was time to present the graduates with their certificates, students applauded each other, family members and friends stood to cheer and celebrate the graduates and faculty and staff cheered out to their students. “I am so proud of you!” called out Resilience Academy art teacher, Michael Hollick as one of his students shook hands with Principal Kiesha Tillman.
Tillman’s advice to the graduating class was simple. “You will never stop learning and growing. Education is transformative. Knowledge provides access to success.” Congratulations to the Class of 2025, we are so proud of you!
