Top students honored at 22nd Annual Academic Achievement Dinner

Sullivan Renaissance Chairperson Sandra Gerry delivered sage advice to honorees bound for a bevy of fine colleges and universities

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ELDRED, NY—With just a few class days remaining in their remarkable high school careers, 28 of the county’s top students gathered from Sullivan County’s eight school districts to mingle with administrators, board members, Sullivan County BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Martin Handler, members of his staff and guest speaker Mrs. Sandra Gerry, Sullivan Renaissance Chairperson, for the 22nd Annual Academic Achievement Dinner on June 4.

Following dinner, Handler introduced Gerry, who offered advice to the students from her own perspective as a former graduate of Tri-Valley and SUNY Oneonta, who learned to stay the course of her own education through perseverance. “You should prepare yourself,” said Gerry. “Goals take time to accomplish.”

Gerry’s second maxim was about enjoying what you do in life. “Be in the moment and appreciate each phase of your life,” she said. Thirdly, Gerry urged the students to “make the world a better place for your being here.” Finally, she added, “Come from a place of gratitude. Your parents have nurtured you and your teachers have prepared you.” Gerry reminded the students about the importance of keeping their health when they get to college. “And don’t forget to call your mom,” she concluded.

Each district superintendent and high school principal introduced their own honorees and acknowledged board members who were present. The students came to the podium one by one to announce where they will be going to college and what their majors will be.

Tri-Valley’s Monica Lee informed the audience that she will be attending Lafayette University and majoring in liberal arts. Other students talked about their future studies at such institutions as Yale, Bucknell, Syracuse, Binghamton, Cornell, LeMoyne, CCNY, Ithaca College, Barnard College, SUNY Geneseo and others.

Majors will include pre-med, English, history, political science, chemistry, theoretical physics, accounting, forensic science and a variety of engineering pursuits.

Each student was given a copy of a thesaurus, courtesy of The Times-Herald Record, to go along with a copy of the poem “Desiderata,” by Max Ehrmann, read by Handler as he celebrated his 10th year as the dinner’s host.

“Go placidly amid the noise,” the poem begins, and goes on to offer words apt for the students’ imminent rite of passage. “Be on good terms with all persons. Be yourself. Do not be cynical about love. Be gentle to yourself,” and finally the poem advises, “Be cheerful and strive to be happy.”