Students Encouraged to Take Risks, Share Their Talents

The piano played, "Pomp and Circumstance" began and the 157 graduates of the  made their way down the stairs at the back of the auditorium and slowly moved toward their seats as the crowd went wild during graduation ceremonies Wednesday.

"This is the end of permission slips and the beginning of freedom, the end of curfew and the beginning of late nights," said Green Brook resident Anita Wamakima during her salutatorian speech. "This is the last chapter of many memories, but it should also be a celebration of moving on to a new chapter and on to a new stage."

Wamakima's speech was just part of the festivities during the graduation ceremony that featured the presentation of awards to students who excelled in different subjects, as well as the expected presentation of the diplomas.

Somerset County Freeholder Patricia Walsh spoke to the graduates, advising them to not be afraid to take risks throughout their lives.

"It's when you fail to take risks that you fail," she said. "It takes courage to let go of the familiar and embrace the new."

Walsh advised students to share what they know with others as they grow older.

"A gift isn't a gift until you give it away," she said. "I challenge you to give it away, and to make the world a better place."

Principal Edmund Jones, who is retiring at the end of this school year, told students to keep giving in the future.

"You have achieved, you are great and we expect more from you in the future," he said. "As you go out to represent us, we know that you will do well. Class of 2011, it has been a pleasure working with you."

In addition to the awards presented to students, Bound Brook resident Adam Fulmore was presented with a special certificate, as he will be reporting Monday for his cadette-ship at West Point Academy, one of 1,300 students chosen from 12,000 nominations across the country.

"The academy has been graduating leaders of character, so each graduate has attributes that are essential to being a military leader," said Robert Brightman, who is an admissions officer with the academy and is based in New Jersey.

Brightman said Fulmore will be receiving a full room and board scholarship, equal to almost half a million dollars. Fulmore will be graduating in four years with a Bachelor of Science degree, and the title of Second Lt. in the Army.

With a shout of "We're so proud of you, Adam!" from the audience, those in attendance at the graduation gave Fulmore a standing ovation when he was awarded his certificate.

Valedictorian, and Bridgewater resident, Shariq Madha wished all the graduates well, and told them to remember all their families and all they have done to guide the graduates.

"But this is about celebrating the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood," he said. "May we all be successful wherever we will go."

The ceremony ended with the conferring of the graduates and the presentation of the diplomas to all the students, except for some who are currently in Kansas City for the National Skills USA competition. For a few of them, their parents were on hand to accept their children's diplomas.

And with the call from Jones that, "You are now graduates of Somerset County Vocational & Technical School," the newly created alumni of the school turned their tassels from one side to the other and threw their mortarboards in the air in celebration.