Somerset Hills Graduates Among Those at Vo-Tech Commencement

The more than 150 members of the Class of 2011 graduated in a ceremony held at the school Wednesday.

The piano played, "Pomp and Circumstance" began and the 157 graduates of the school, located in Bridgewater, 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."

Below is the list of all students in the graduating class, including those from the Somerset Hills area. The list includes the towns they live in, as well as what they studied at the school and the awards they received at graduation.

*National Honor Society Member

^National Technical Honor Society Member

• Nicole Adams, North Plainfield, Health Occupations
• Fatima Ali, Bridgewater, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences *—Sara Mueller Memorial Award
• Darwin Arias, South Bound Brook, Small Engines—Joseph Bresnan Memorial Award
• Justin Babich, Manville, Welding
• Ally Behrins, Basking Ridge, Performing Arts/Dance
• Scarlett Blanco, South Bound Brook, Auto Mechanics—John R. Blasse Memorial Award, Fred Vogt Memorial Award
• Mcauley Breault, Basking Ridge, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Health & Medical Sciences
• Cory Bruckmann, Bridgewater, Carpentry/Building Trades
• Jeanne Brydon, Raritan, Culinary Arts—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Culinary Arts
• Brittany Buckmire, Bridgewater, Performing Arts/Dance—Dance Education Award
• Alec Burke, Watchung, Electrical Construction
• Johanna Calvache, North Plainfield, Cosmetology
• James Cann, Hillsborough, Welding
• Gabrielle Cann-Kyne, Franklin, Health Occupations^
• Jacqueline Cardile, Bridgewater, Performing Arts/Dance
• David Castro, Manville, Auto Mechanics
• Spreeha Choudhury, Bridgewater, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• Jake Collazzo, Franklin, Cisco^—Sara Mueller Memorial Award, NJ STARS I Honoree
• Maria Corrales, South Bound Brook, Law & Public Safety^
• Jorge Cristaldo, South Bound Brook, Cisco^—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Cisco Academy
• Stephanie J. Diaz, Bridgewater, Health Occupations—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Health Occupations
• Maria Digiovanni, Bridgewater, Cosmetology
• Sha-Meeka Dinkens, Somerville, Cosmetology
• Megan Doorly, Raritan, Performing Arts/Dance
• Adam Dubson, Bridgewater, Plumbing
• Jeffrey Erkkila, Whitehouse Station, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• Celita Evans, Bound Brook, Cosmetology
• Anthony Fasano, Manville, Auto Mechanics—Jack Apgar Memorial Award, Parent Advisory Committee Award for Auto Technology
• Jessica Figueroa, North Plainfield, Cosmetology
• Matthew Finnegan, Hillsborough, Law & Public Safety
• Kenneth Fontana, Bridgewater, Auto Mechanics—PSE Motor Sports Award
• Nicholas Forgetta, Bridgewater, Welding—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Welding
• Nicole Forsythe, Hillsborough, Commercial Art & Design—SCVTHS Commercial Art & Design Award
• Brian Franchuk, Branchburg, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences—Rotary Club of Branchburg Scholarship Award
• Adam Fulmore, Bound Brook, Law & Public Safety*^—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Law & Public Safety, NJ STARS I Honoree
• Diana Galindo, Somerville, Cosmetology^
• Kevin Garita, Manville, Electrical Construction
• Leah Geiser, Milford, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• Matthew George, Manville, Auto Body—Auto Body Shop Award
• Danielle Gierloff, Hillsborough, Cosmetology
• Casey Glenn, Branchburg, Graphic Arts-Print—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Graphic Arts/Printing, SCVTHS Graphic Arts/Print Shop Award
• Jennylee Gonzalez, Somerville, Health Occupations
• Melissa Guillen, Raritan, Cosmetology
• Rebecca Guilloud, Hillsborough, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• James Hastings, Manville, Small Engines—P.A.C. Award for Small Engines
• Andrea Hernandez, North Plainfield, Health Occupations
• Jason Holloway, Manville, Cisco
• Andrew Hunter, Bridgewater, Commercial Art & Design
• Anna Isachenko, Manville, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• Nouman Ishfaq, North Plainfield, Health Occupations
• Adam Januse, Bridgewater, Electrical Construction
• Kimberly Kafka, Neshanic Station, Performing Arts/Dance^
• Meina Karimi, Milford, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences
• John Kelliher, South Bound Brook, Small Engines
• Kevin Klimas, North Plainfield, Auto Body—Auto Body Shop Award for Most Improved Student
• Zachary Langowski, Bridgewater, Welding
• Brandon Lantvet, Hillsborough, Technical Occupational Preparation for Success
• Giovanni Leal, Bound Brook, Auto Body
• Samantha Leal, Bound Brook, Cosmetology*^—SCVTHS Foundation Award, NJ STARS I Honoree
• Natalia Lima, Basking Ridge, Health Occupations^
• William Litschi, Bernardsville, Welding^
• Aaron Lopez, Franklin, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences
• Ariel Lopez, North Plainfield, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences—Sara Mueller Memorial Award
• Olivia Lorenzo, Branchburg, Cosmetology
• Ronald Lozada, Somerville, Plumbing
• Ronnie R. Lozada, Manville, Auto Mechanics—SCVTHS Auto Technology Advisory Board Award
• Laura Macaro, Hillsborough, Health Occupations
• Shariq Madha, Bridgewater, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*—SCVTS Foundation Award, George F. Meyer Memorial Valedictorian Award, NJ STARS II Honoree
• Jillian Mahon, Bridgewater, Health Occupations^—Sara Mueller Humanitarian Award, NJ STARS I Honoree, SCVTS Foundation Award
• Matthew Mantz, Bridgewater, Auto Body^
• Andrew Massa, Bridgewater, Electrical Construction
• Anthony Mastroianni, Hillsborough, Electrical Construction
• Jack Mazellan, Branchburg, Law & Public Safety—Somerville Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. 1068 Senior Award
• Megan McDermott, Neshanic Station, Performing Arts/Dance^
• Garrett Mentuck, Bridgewater, Carpentry/Building Mechanics
• Derek Metaxas, Manville, Plumbing—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Plumbing
• Samantha Miller, Martinsville, Performing Arts/Dance^—TAP Company Award
• Niki Mirzaei, Princeton, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• John Miskuff, South Bound Brook, Cisco
• Cherise Mitchell, Green Brook, Cosmetology
• Dillon Montuori, South Bound Brook , Commercial Art & Design
• Kyle Mooney, Manville, Electrical Construction
• Marissa Moschette, Flemington, Performing Arts/Dance
• Sydney Motz, Whitehouse Station, Performing Arts/Dance
• Sara Murphy, Warren, Cosmetology^
• Jason Nicholson, North Plainfield, Horticulture
• Dana Noble, Westfield, Performing Arts/Acting
• Tyler Northup, Bound Brook, Welding
• Sarah Notte, South Bound Brook, Printing
• Ian Onesko, Raritan, Carpentry/Building Trades
• Elizabeth Ortiz, Manville, Culinary Arts—New Jersey Restaurant Association Award
• Alexandra Osorio, Watchung, Performing Arts/Dance
• Dylan Page, South Bound Brook, Auto Body*^—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Auto Body, Imagine America Scholarship for Vocational Education, Principal's Award, SkillsUSA Adrienne Willard Memorial Award, NJ STARS I Honoree
• Anthony Parella, Bridgewater, Diesel Mechanics
• Marc Pasternak, Bound Brook, Plumbing
• Shweta Patro, Bridgewater, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*—Somerville Elks Lodge, B.P.O.E. 1068 Senior Award, National Honor Society Award, NJ STARS II Honoree, Sara Mueller Memorial Award
• Jennifer Pecht, South Bound Brook, Health Occupations
• Jacqueline Pennica, Bridgewater, Auto Mechanics
• James Perez, Raritan, Auto Mechanics
• Brittany Petrock, Basking Ridge, Performing Arts/Dance—Parent Advisory Committee for Dance Performance
• Michael Philephs, Somerville, Horticulture
• Chelsea Phillip, Bridgewater, Performing Arts/Dance—Ruth St. Denis Award for Dance Performance
• Nicholas Phillippi, Bridgewater, Carpentry/Building Trades
• Divya Rao, Princeton, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• Carolyn Reading, North Plainfield, Culinary Arts^—Escoffier Award
• Nicole Reilly, Franklin, Cosmetology
• Brian Remeta, Branchburg, Electrical Construction—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Electrical Construction, SCVTHS Somerset County Scholar-Athlete Award
• Douglas Ridzy, Bridgewater, Cosmetology
• Kate Roe, Basking Ridge, Performing Arts/Dance^—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Dance Performance, Above & Beyond Volunteerism Award
• Andrew Rojas, South Bound Brook, Culinary Arts
• Melina Rojas, Somerset, Cosmetology*^—National Technical Honor Society Award, NJ STARS I Honoree, Parent Advisory Committee Award for Cosmetology, SCVTHS Cosmetology Shop Award
• Tiffany Romero, Somerset, Health Occupations^—Stanley Jaros Memorial Community Service Award, NJ STARS I Honoree
• Stephanie Ryback, Manville, Health Occupations—Blood Center of New Jersey Scholarship Award
• Meredith Sabol, Bedminster, Commercial Art & Design
• Jacqueline Sacco, Clark, Performing Arts/Dance
• Sandra Sanchez, Raritan, Health Occupations^
• Christina Santana, Somerset, Health Occupations—SCVTHS Foundation Award
• Michelle Santana, Bound Brook, Health Occupations^—Linkages Program Award
• Darion Sarboukh, South Bound Brook, Cosmetology
• Tadas Satkunas, Bound Brook, Auto Body
• Troy Saverino, Green Brook, Auto Mechanics—Nicholas Thul Award
• Siara Sealy, North Plainfield, Health Occupations
• Krishna Shah, Somerset, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*
• Cameron Shearer, Hillsborough, Electrical Construction—John R. Blasse Memorial Award
• Brian Silverman, Hillsborough, Plumbing—Mahlon D. Royce Memorial Award
• Samantha Simone, Basking Ridge, Performing Arts/Acting^—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Acting, The Eleonora Duse Award in Acting
• Alicialyn Skibbee, Bridgewater, Commercial Art & Design—SCVTHS Commercial Art & Design Award
• Alonzo Smith, North Plainfield, Law & Public Safety
• Brandon Smith, South Orange, Auto Body—Sara Mueller Memorial Award
• Raymond Straszewski, South Bound Brook, Auto Mechanics—Nicholas Thul Award
• Matthew Sturm, Hillsborough, Carpentry/Building Trades
• Tsultrim Tenzin, North Plainfield, Commercial Art & Design
• Andrew Thomas, Hillsborough, Auto Mechanics
• Denzel Thomas, Franklin, Cisco
• Jacqualyn Thompson, Somerset, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences
• Nicole Totorello, Hillsborough, Cosmetology^—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Cosmetology, NJ STARS I Honoree
• Patricia Trinidad, Somerville, Health Occupations
• Sofia Tsampounieri, North Plainfield, Cosmetology
• Nancy Umana, Bridgewater, Cosmetology
• Donna Unke, Warren, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*—SCVTHS Somerset County Scholar-Athlete Award
• Joseph Vega, Bridgewater, Electrical Construction
• Carlos Vela, South Bound Brook, Commercial Art & Design—Parent Advisory Committee Award for Commercial Art & Design
• Kevin Vergara, Bound Brook, Small Engines
• Nicholas Vigilante, Whitehouse Station, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences—Linkages Program Award
• David Villafane, North Plainfield, Carpentry/Building Trades—Career Development Scholarship Award, Imagine America Scholarship for Vocational Education
• Fransisco Villanueva, South Bound Brook, Cisco—Somerset County Vocational Technical Education Association Award
• Melissa Walsh, Bridgewater, Performing Arts/Dance
• Anita Wamakima, Green Brook, Academy for Health & Medical Sciences*—Rotary Club of Somerville and Bridgewater Scholarship, NJ STARS II Honoree, David G. Miller Memorial Salutatorian Award
• Rebecca Weiss, Skillman, Performing Arts/Dance^
• Rodney Williams, Somerset, Auto Body
• Brian Zarnowski, Manville, Auto Mechanics
• Stacey Zelmore, Manville, Cosmetology
• Tim Zoda, North Plainfield, Small Engines
• David Zuccarelli, Bound Brook, Electrical Construction
• James Zvirbulis, Branchburg, Health Occupations