By Chuck Stewart, Jr
Poughkeepsie - "The class of 2009, their time has come," stated Poughkeepsie High School Principal Margaret Pineiro in her welcoming address.
Approximately 204 students received diplomas during last Saturday’s afternoon ceremony. The seniors, dressed in blue and white caps and gowns, entered the high school auditorium to "Pomp and Circumstance."
Family members cheered for loved ones and took pictures as they made their way down the isle.
The 137th commencement exercises were underway.
The Poughkeepsie High School Senior Music Students performed, "Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday," receiving a thunderous applause.
Salutatorian Eric Brown recounted the numerous changes he encountered during his high school years. "Now it is time for our class to experience one of the biggest changes of our lifetime," Brown said. "Graduation."
Valedictorian Jessica Susser thanked everyone for being their, "Families, teachers, friends, administrators, and everybody else," to great laughter.
Susser said the class of 2009 had "grown attached to this place." And now it was time to move on. "It seems like this took forever. Like this day would never become reality. This would never happen. Time moved forward slowly, Susser said. "But the day is finally here...we’ve done it."
Soon thereafter, Superintendent Dr. Laval Wilson certified the class of 2009, and said, "You are now graduates of Poughkeepsie High School."
