Heidi Heleniak
Dunellen High School graduating seniors waiting for the presentation of the diplomas by Dunellen Board of Education President, Jeffrey Portik.
The sky was overcast and occasionally a light drizzle cut through the evening’s humidity. But that did not dampen the spirits of Dunellen High School’s graduating seniors and their families, friends, and community gathering in Washington Park this past Wednesday, June 20, 2018.
The graduation ceremony was much like those that have occurred in the previous decade. But there was a special poignancy. Instead of 87 caps and gowns in the park, there were 88.
The program started as a continuation of 2017’s graduation ceremony. Last year, Jessica Williams was seriously injured just weeks before she was scheduled to graduate when a man intentionally drove his car onto a Times Square sidewalk killing one pedestrian and injuring 22 others including fellow classmate Destiny Lightfoot. Lightfoot who had broken her leg was able to attend the ceremony, albeit in a wheelchair; but Williams remained in the hospital for months recovering from several surgeries and was unable to attend the ceremony. Her mother Elaine Williams accepted in her stead as Williams watched a live feed from her hospital bed.
Williams was finally able to walk through the flower-bedecked arch and receive her certificate in person. A special seating section was reserved for her family and two members of the New York Police Department who had helped rescue her.
The ceremony also was a reminder that two of Dunellen’s most beloved residents had passed away since the last graduation. John Hummel presented the Dunellen Recreation Department scholarship that was named in honor of his mother Betty Hummel. She passed away at the age of 100 this March, having volunteered for several Dunellen organizations for decades. DHS Athletic Director Dave DeNapoli presented a new scholarship that was created by Clement “Butch” Santonastaso in memory of his father, former Dunellen Recreation Director Clem Santy who died last year.
Heidi Heleniak
Valedictorian Skylin Cabrera takes the Class of 2018 down memory lane with the traditional retrospective, reminding the audience to cherish every moment. She dedicated her graduation to her young cousin who recently died from leukemia.
Salutatorian: Laura Arbelaez Rios
Valedictorian: Skylin Cabrera
Senior Class Officers
President: Conor McCrimmon
Vice President: Faith Wright
Secretary: Kim Hoang
Treasurer: Anelle Mouton
Scholarships
American Legion Post 119 Good Citizen Scholarships
Anthony Michael Buccino
Angelo Giovanni Facciponti-Mennella
American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship
Amy Elizabeth Jaglowski
Dunellen Education Association Scholarship
Laura Marina Arbelaz Rios
Dunellen Recreation Commission Scholarships
Anthony Michael Buccino
Kathryn Elise Ruskuski
Joseph P. Brennan Scholarship
Jason Ferrer Watung
Dunellen Booster Club Scholarship
Nileana Duverge
Sharfarez Melvin Noor
Richard M. Zupko Memorial Scholarship
Anelle Monique Mouton
Clem J. Santy Memorial Scholarship
Jonathan Steven Desmelyk
Michael Shello Memorial Scholarship
Alison Grace McGrath
Clifford Vail III Memorial Scholarship
Anthony Michael Buccino
Alison Grace McGrath
Beth Ann Scalzo Memorial Scholarship
Rachel Lynneth Del Campo
Kathryn Elise Ruskuski
Jon Swarm Memorial Scholarship
Alexander Lyman Dornbierer
Laurie Keating-Petrolino Memorial Nursing Scholarship
Nileana Duverge
The Class of 1955 Scholarship
Amy Larissa Carballo
B.P.O. Elks “Democracy in Action” Scholarship
Amy Elizabeth Jaglowski
Provident Bank Scholarship
Jason Ferrer Watung
Dunellen Defender Fire Co. #1 Steve Bocian Memorial Scholarship
Ulises Jesus Ramirez
John Connolly Memorial Scholarship
Julia Alice Duggan
Dunellen – Green Brook Rotary Scholarships
Skylin Noeli Cabrera
Laura Marina Arbelaz Rios
Natalie Ashley Lizak
Luke Tunison
Dunellen Parent Teacher Organization Scholarships
Natalie Ashley Lizak
Laura Marina Arbelaz Rios
Anelle Monique Mouton
Julia Alice Duggan
Alexander Lyman Dornbierer
Dunellen Lions Club Scholarship
Anthony Michael Buccino
Kathryn Elise Ruskuski
Dunellen Parking Authority Scholarships
Rachel Lynneth Del Campo
Angelo Giovanni Facciponti-Mennella
2018 Graduating Seniors
National Honor Society members’ names are italicized
Giselle Agreda, Leandro Alfredo Aguirre, Jasmine Amaya, Laura Marina Arbelaez Rios, Kyle Thomas Arocho, Alexander James Askew, Larry James Binney, Alexander Blandon, Anthony Michael Buccino, Skylin Noeli Cabrera, Amy Larissa Carballo, Xavier Alberto Carvajal Diaz, Daniella Rachell Cascante-Alfaro, Jose A. Castillo Medrano, Eduardo Jose Cermeno, Kelmy Beatriz Chacon, Chloe Jayne Dale, Joaquin Griffin De La Garza, Rachel Lynneth Del Campo, Victoria Marisel Del Valle, Joseph Michael Delvecchio, Frank Dominick DeMaio IV, Jonathan Steven Desmelyk, Michael Andre Dominguez, Alexander Lyman Dornbierer, Julia Alice Duggan, Nileana Duverge.
Angelo Giovanni Facciponti-Mennella, Leonardo Gabriel Fonseca, Tyon Jason Forney-Hush, Davia Anselma Francis, Michael Akaki Gedevani, Francisca Ignacia Giaverini, Fatima Gomes, Jalani Aiesha Hagood-Henry, Michael Richard Harmon, Judit Mercedez Hernandez, Kelly Ann Hess, Nicole Hirasek, Kim Thien Hoang.
Anijah Nicole Jackson, Amy Elizabeth Jaglowski, Pablo Andres Jimenez, Jordan Diana Lightfoot, Josiane Lima, Natalie Ashley Lizak, Carlos Daniel Lopez Botero, Neri Johan Lopez, Ciro John Lowder.
Eduardo Enrique Maiza, Nazir Martin, Heidy Rocio Martinez, Jeanette Anella Mastrogiovanni, Conor Norman McCrimmon, Alison Grace McGrath, Frank Mendieta, Robert Mitchell, Anelle Monique Mouton, Cora Anne Myers, Cain Thomas Nash, Sharfarez Melvin Noor, Jocelyn M. Olivia Ramirez, Melissa Elena Ortega, Pedro Enrique Ortega, Nicolas Daniel Pandel, Celeste Marie Piano, Josue David Portero, Gillian Viviana Posas.
Nicol Vanessa Ramierez, Ulises Jesus Ramirez, Alexander Tavares Ramos, Jillian Nicole Rentenberg, Isiah Javon Roberts. Jason David Rodriguez, Anthony Vincent Ruggerio, Kathryn Elise Ruskuski, Rebekah Lee Santiago, Keona Marie Sierra, Brendon Tran, Kenneth Randall Tunison, Luke William Tunison.
Martin Sebastian Vaca, Brandon Edward Vail, Jason Ferrer Watung, Evan James Wilson, Olivia Xia-Ru Worthington, Faith Jacquelyne Wright.