On the evening of June 25, years of hard work culminated with a beautiful graduation ceremony for the Locust Valley High School Class of 2026. The 125 graduates strode across the stage at the school’s Fred Smith Field, and enjoyed a night of reflection and celebration with their classmates, friends, family and teachers.
Dressed in their Locust Valley green and white gowns with pins and cords representing their accomplishments, the graduates beamed with excitement as they marched onto the field alongside the faculty members who helped them along their educational journeys in Bayville and Locust Valley.
After beautiful renditions of “Pomp and Circumstance” by the graduation ensemble and “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the chamber singers, principal Patrick DiClemente and Board of Education President George Vasiliou spoke to the class about the impact the Class of 2026 left on the school community and the exciting future that lies ahead for them.
“Your leadership and unity defined a high school experience marked by stellar academic achievement, impactful community service and meaningful mentorship with our elementary and middle school students,” DiClemente said. “You cultivated a positive culture.”
Referencing the poem "Ithaka" by Greek author Constantine Cavafy, Vasiliou urged the candidates to live in the moment even when working to their end goals. “Don’t let a check list become your horizon,” Vasiliou said. “Don’t let the image of a perfect Ithica blind you to the beauty of the journey that you are on.”
After accepting an Excellence medal from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kristen Turnow, class president Liam Baker stepped to the podium and addressed his classmates, urging them to treasure every moment they have with the people who helped them along their paths.
“Just remember that life’s too short and too precious to not take chances. Just do it,” Baker told his classmates. “But more importantly, tell your loved ones that you love them, say thank you and be kind each and every day.”
Following Baker’s speech, the chamber singers returned to continue the school tradition of performing “In My Life” by The Beatles. Subsequently, salutatorian Grant Creedon, student speaker Gianna Craft and valedictorian Justin Kwok received their own Excellence medals and took their turns speaking to their classmates and the audience.
“And now, for the first time, we have the opportunity to build something entirely new,” Creedon said. “The future is not already written. It will be shaped by the decisions we make, the risks we take and the people we choose to become.”
Gianna Craft likened the lessons she and her classmates learned during their high school years to those of the characters in “Toy Story.” Woody learns about change; Buzz Lightyear learns self-acceptance and the aliens learn about curiosity and taking control of their own destiny.
“Our time here at Locust Valley has allowed us to discover our true passions and strengths, whether those strengths be in the classroom, on the field, on stage or in the community,” Craft said. “It is these unique abilities that make us who we are and what made us so successful as a graduating class.”
Justin Kwok spoke about the new interests he found through encouragement by his teachers, such as joining the Jesters drama club out of the blue as a freshman, and the importance of taking a leap into the uncomfortable to discover hidden talents.
“In theater, we follow a rigid script where everything, our next line, interaction and acting choice is certain, but if you always stick to a rigid script, there’s no room for that little dash of exploration,” Kwok said. “When a scene goes wrong, a prop breaks or someone forgets their line, things are uncertain, and you’re forced to improvise. But it is during that very improvisation where the most important connections are formed – the connections where you save each other, learn and bring the performance back to life.”
Before the candidates received their diplomas, Dr. Turnow spoke about the way she and the Class of 2026 could find peace and joy in times of change. Inspired by Locust Valley Intermediate School fourth-grader Gia Adwar’s artwork called “Peace and Gratitude,” which depicts a peace sign with fourth quadrants filled with beautiful scenes from each season and holding hands around the edges, Dr. Turnow told the students, “Her message to all of us is simple, yet deeply wise: we can find true happiness simply by watching the leaves change color, watching a sunset, enjoying a snow day or seeing flowers bloom. Instead of focusing on the little things that upset us, we can be grateful for the people and the environment around us.”
After receiving their diplomas, turning their tassels and tossing their caps in the air, the graduates sought out their friends and took in the moment. While their time as students in these buildings may be over, they will always have a home here and be Falcons forever.