Results tagged “graduation”

Mott Hall Middle School in Harlem had been asking former president Bill Clinton to speak at their eighth grade graduation ceremonies for five years—and this year, he agreed! The Daily News was on the scene for the big day, pointing out that Clinton usually gets $100,000 for speaking engagements. Clinton said, "I can almost give a one-sentence commencement address—I came here because you kept asking me. But I think you should remember that—if you want something bad enough, just keep working for it. And don't forget to ask." But, as is the case with Clinton, he kept speaking, "[giving] a very grown-up dissertation on the increasingly inter-connected, inter-dependent world that today's young people will soon inherit." He also emphasized their education, "Critical thinking will never go out of style. We are going up or down together - people around the block and people across the globe. You've got a good start here. You know how to do it. And I urge you to press on." The students were dazzled, with one saying he would try to be "the first Latin president...Maybe I'll start off small -- like mayor or something -- and go from there."

An observant Jewish senior at Mott Hall High School in Harlem is missing her graduation—because the ceremony takes place on the Sabbath. The Post reports that Li Morse, "who is one of just nine white students in the 400-person school and the only Jewish student in her grade," is really upset: "This is one of the most absurd situations in my life. I'm very angry." Morse's mother pleaded with the school's principal, pointing out that even her daughter's classmates made sure the senior class trip didn't conflict with Jewish holidays. But the school held firm, only offering a diploma ceremony at the school library on Friday. Morse's mother said, "She shouldn't have to choose between her religion and her high-school graduation," while the teen, who will attend the College of Staten Island this all, said, "It's my high-school graduation. I went through 12 years of school. It's a big life event, and I wanted to do it, and I can't." The school nor the Department of Education had comment for the Post.

With high school graduations quickly approaching, it’s time for the annual day where 17-year-olds look back on their twelve-plus years of free education and ditch any tender moments of gratitude or nostalgia in lieu of creating pure chaos: Senior Prank Day. Yesterday in Queens, Richmond Hill High School's pranks turned into a riot with ten students arrested and the school put on lockdown—all before 10 a.m. The arrests were spurred on when authorities arrived in response to a fire alarm students had pulled. On top of that, the Post reports that departing seniors "threw baby powder, oil, food, paint, barbecue sauce and eggs all over the school's second floor, causing a panic." Windows were broken and computers damaged. One student gave the paper a familiar story: "It was supposed to be a powder fight, but people started showing up with eggs and rice and bananas and shaving cream. It was supposed to be something minor." The ten students were charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

The Harvard senior who was barred from graduating next month and banned from campus—due to an alleged connection with the fatal shooting of a drug dealer at the school— has spoken out. According to the Post, sources say Chanequa Campbell helped swipe murder victim Justin Cosby into the dorm to sell drugs, but Campbell denies knowing him. She admits to knowing suspect shooter Jabrai Jordan Copney of New York—but only through Copney's girlfriend, Harvard senior Brittany Smith (who is allowed to graduate next month). Campbell, a Packer College Institute graduate who earned many scholarships, tells the Post, "I'm hurt and I'm confused. For me not to be graduating is frustrating. Harvard is doing this to me because I'm black, I'm poor and I'm from Brooklyn...I'm feeling I'm being scapegoated and I can't defend myself." Her lawyer adds that Harvard hasn't given a reason for banning his client from campus, "I've been practicing law for almost 17 years and have rarely come across someone as highly educated and articulate as Chanequa... What [Harvard has] done to Chanequa is equivalent to having your house foreclosed and losing your job on the same day."

Speaking of stadium streaking, NYU's commencement ceremony is at Yankee Stadium today, and there's talk that the new ballfield could get its first buff job to match last night's Citi Field christening. You'll recall that last year NYU graduate Will Lopez made news by dashing onto the field (video) in boxers and his gown, rounding third, and getting tackled by security. Lopez tells the News, "I have a bunch of friends that are graduating this year. All of them are like, 'One of us has to carry the torch.' It would be great if somebody tried to make it a tradition. But I'm not sure if any of them have the guts to do it." This from the guy who "streaked" with underwear on because he "thought they might nail me for public indecency." Anyway, his buddies' fifteen minutes of fame is going be tougher to come by this year because security is definitely on the lookout for such shenanigans, and the keynote speaker is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But come on, bros, you aren't seriously going to let the Secret Service stand in the way of tradition?

NYU announced today that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will give the commencement speech at their graduation ceremonies on May 13th at Yankee Stadium. Hillary will be presented with an honorary doctorate of law alongside other guests of honor, including playwright John Patrick Shanley, White House journalist Helen Thomas, health advocate Jessie Gruman and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert Fert. Schools Chancellor Joel Klien will receive the “Lewis Rudin Award for Exemplary Service to New York City.” Hillary is also slated to give the commencement address at Barnard this year, while Columbia University grads will hear a speech from new Attorney General Eric Holder. Meanwhile out in Los Angeles, current Columbia student and Pineapple Express star James Franco will give the commencement address at UCLA.

Yesterday a group of 8 autistic children graduating from P.S. 37 had a treat in store as Jennifer Lopez stood amongst the audience. The school is in Staten Island's Great Kills neighborhood, and the 10 and 11-year-old kids were performing her song and dance routine for "Let's Get Loud." SI Live reports on the singer's cameo.

The class was first introduced to Lopez's music a few months ago when they had to choose a song to dance to at graduation. Teacher Kathy Amati and paraprofessional Rose Mondella showed the students the "Let's Get Loud" video as a suggestion, and the class of eight boys loved it. They wanted to watch it every day and learned all of the lyrics and dance moves from the video.

Continue reading "J.Lo Drops in on Staten Island Graduation"

New York is in the midst of graduation season, when freshly minted scholars don cap and gown to accept sheepskins and jobs they will probably remember as their most demeaning. But first they'll have the opportunity to ingest the wisdom of their commencement speakers. Also, it's an opportunity to get on TV and be tackled by security guards. David Letterman ran a top-ten list of signs that you have a bad commencement speaker. Shockingly, no mention of whether the speaker's name rhymed with Gov. Nelliot Schvitzer.

A study conducted by the non-profit group America's Promise Alliance has found that New York City has one of the nation's worst high school graduation rates, ranking 43rd among 50 other major U.S. cities and their surrounding areas. Only 45% of high school students in New York City graduate in four years, while in the surrounding suburbs, the four year graduation rate is 83%