The following was submitted by the Walter T. Bergen School.

Fifty two eighth graders graduated from the Walter T. Bergen Middle School in Bloomingdale at its 40^th graduation on Tuesday.

The program included music by the school band under the direction of Mrs. C. Lehman. Eighth grade band members played the “Star Spangled Banner.”  Mikaila Higbie and Nicholas Sanders led the graduates and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The welcoming address was given by Kevin Rooney and Taylor Russnak.

Graduation speeches were given by Erin Amadio, Allison DePuyt and Hannacy Gurbisz on “Past, Present, and Future.” Bree Iurato and Cole Rhinesmith presented a monetary class gift to be used toward the beautification of the school grounds.

Valerie Chica and Tatiana Hold presented the yearbook, Glenwild Echoes, which was dedicated to Mrs. L. Reese for her many years of teaching in the Bloomingdale school district.

Dr. Terrance Brennan, interim superintendent of schools, Mr. Frank Verducci, principal of the Walter T. Bergen Middle School, and Mr. John Pituch, vice president of the board of education, addressed the graduates before presenting them with their diplomas. Allison Barker, Nicholas DePeola, Sean Ellicott, Lauren O’Neill read the names of the graduates.  After receiving their diplomas, the graduates sang “Wherever I Go” by Miley Cyrus. 

Eighth grade faculty included Mr. T. Bohn, Mrs. M. Conboy, Mr. S. DeLucca, Mrs. C. DeKeukelaere, Ms. C. Fleyzor, Mr. G. Geary, Mrs. D. Hannah, Mrs. M. Jacobs, Mrs. C. Lehman, Mr. K. Lombardi, and Mrs. L. Reese and Mrs. J. Saltzman. Mr. V. Fredericks was the eighth grade advisor. Ms. J. Engelhardt was the yearbook advisor.

A special thank you goes to the Class of 2012 Parent Committee for all their time and effort.

Check out photos from the Walter T. Bergen School commencement ceremony here.

A full list of the graduates of the Class of 2012 is below.

*Erin Amadio           

Jennifer Kaufman

Alyson Barker                                               

Michael Kolanko

Lauren Bisanti                                               

Romina Lavandera

Brandon Bott                                                   

Bryan Manderson

Kyle Bowen                                                 

Zachary Martin

Brianna Brady                                             

* Sofia Martini

Adem Cengiz                                               

Lauren O’Neill

Valerie Chica                                               

Dafina Osmani

Rachel D’Agnilli                                             

Thomas Otte

Deanna DeMarco      

Carly PerrottaNicholas DePeola                     

* Cole Rhinesmith

* Allison DePuyt                                    

* Steven Riley

Tyler DeVito                                           

+* Kevin Rooney

David Douglass                                               

Karen Rueda

Sean Ellicott                                               

Alejandro Ruiz

Salvatore Farruggia                                 

+* Taylor Russnak    

* Breanna Federici       

Nicholas Sanders

Kyle Geipel                                              

* Ethan Schlotterbeck

* Hannacy Gurbisz        

Collin Shipman

Patrick Haywood                                   

Margaret Slack

Rosalee Henning                                            

* Kelsey Smits

Mikaila Higbie                                   

* Larissa Spellman

Brian Hoeft                                               

Stefanie Thornton

Christian Hold                                             

* J.T. Timpanaro

Tatiana Hold                                       

* Kristin Toedtmann

Bree Iurato                                               

Amanda Wenzel  

+Denotes – Student Council Officers

* Denotes National Junior Honor Society