Haddonfield Memorial High School celebrated the graduates of the senior class of 2014–2015 on Thursday, June 18 at the HMHS stadium. One hundred and ninety seniors in caps and gowns took their final steps as high school students and began new steps to their next journey in life.
On that day, students, administrators, families and friends were addressed by the class of 2015 valedictorian Ryan Ciemny, salutatorian Elle Butler Basner and class president Julia Fonshell, giving hope and inspiration to the class of 2015 for the future.
The Sun took some time to speak to Ciemny, Basner and Fonshell on graduating, their speeches, their future goals, memories and more:
The Sun: How do you feel about graduating?
Ciemny: I will miss many things about Haddonfield, mainly the friends I have here, but I am very excited to take the next step in our journey through life. I think HMHS has been a great environment to learn and grow up in, so I feel we are all very prepared to go out and conquer the world. Our class is very tight-knit, so we will definitely enjoy these next couple months together, but I know we will all go on to do great things in college and have lots of fun.
Basner: I am excited to begin a new life of freedom and more opportunities, but will miss the comfort of home in Haddonfield and the strong sense of community.
Fonshell: It is definitely a bittersweet feeling. I am very excited to be starting a brand new chapter in my life, however it’s very difficult to leave a town and friends I have known for over 12 years for the first time.
The Sun: How do you feel about being named valedictorian/salutatorian/class president?
Ciemny: I just found out yesterday that I was the valedictorian, and I honestly didn’t really know that I was going to be valedictorian as class rank isn’t a big focus at HMHS throughout the four years. As a result, I was very excited when I was named valedictorian. HMHS being the great school that it is emphasizes a competitive academic environment, and therefore there are many great candidates, so I was very honored to be named valedictorian.
Basner: I feel very honored to be this year’s salutatorian. I know that the top few people in terms of class rank all have GPAs that are very close, and there are others that would be deserving of recognition.
Fonshell: This class is very special and I am truly proud and thankful to be a representative for such a supportive and incredibly kind group of people. Being class president for the class of 2015 over the last four years has truly been the best experience.
The Sun: Where are you going to college? What are you majoring in? What is your dream job?
Ciemny: I will be attending the University of Notre Dame next year. More specifically, I will be studying at the Mendoza College of Business. I’m not positive exactly what my major will be, but it likely will be finance with a possible minor in political science. Obviously, my interests and plans may change over the course of the next four years, but I hope to go to grad school to get my MBA and get a job in private equity.
Basner: I am attending Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y., and I will be majoring in biochemistry and/or mathematics. I am considering cryptology, statistics and research for my future career.
Fonshell: I will be majoring in political science and attending the University of South Carolina. I hope to one day be working in D.C.
The Sun: Can you tell me a little about your speech?
Ciemny: My speech focuses mainly on the bright futures we all have. The message I am trying to convey is that we all have the tools and ability to do great things in the next chapter of our lives, so it is up to us to go out and get what we want. I use the following quote by William Jennings Bryan to help convey this message: “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” I lived in Switzerland during my freshmen and sophomore year, so I also touch on what I learned from that experience. And I spend a little time discussing the importance of character and integrity when going after our goals. Again, the overall message is that we have to give it our all in the upcoming years and go after what we want because we all can and will do great things.
Basner: In my speech, I aimed to remind the class of 2015 of our strong support system between classmates and the community. I also wanted to inspire us to always aim higher and reach for our goals and dreams.
Fonshell: My speech will mostly be talking about the class of 2015’s experiences during their time at HMHS. I will be talking about many of the class’ achievements as well as talking about how close our class has really become.
The Sun: What kind of message do you want to leave your fellow graduates with?
Ciemny: I answered this somewhat in the previous question as my speech essentially is the message I want to leave my classmates, but I end my speech with a quote by Zac Brown, which is: “You get what you give.” I want my classmates to give it their all for the next four years because I believe they will get great results and do great things in return.
Basner: I am proud of all of us and our accomplishments. Receiving an award is certainly very noteworthy and honorable, but there isn’t an award for everything, and it isn’t all about the titles. We are all talented, motivated and ready for success.
Fonshell: I hope my fellow graduates leave feeling proud of their time at Haddonfield. I also hope it encourages people to stay connected with their classmates and this Haddonfield community as they move away and enter the real world.
The Sun: What’s your favorite memory you’ve had being in the Haddonfield Public Schools?
Ciemny: Picking one memory is very difficult, but the highlight of Haddonfield Public Schools for me is the people. Obviously, all the students have been a huge part of my life from the beginning, but the teachers and administrators are really what makes Haddonfield Public Schools such a great environment to learn in and grow up in. The teachers are dedicated to helping you succeed while also teaching in a way that makes us, the students, enjoy learning and makes us strive to do more.
Basner: It’s hard to choose just one; I’ve had many great experiences here. One of my favorites was Mr. Burns’ speech to our calculus class on the last day of school for seniors. I also loved putting on the first annual HMHS Shakespeare Festival with the help of our school’s Shakespeare Troupe led by Ms. Dickstein. Also, every time I meet with Mr. Holman, he is helpful and insightful. I cannot say enough great things about him.
Fonshell: My favorite memory at the Haddonfield Public Schools would have to be spirit weeks at the high school. The spirit weeks each year have united our class so much and gave us an opportunity to work hard for causes we were really passionate about, such as donating cans for the can drive and raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, JDRF and Unstoppable, a charity in honor of our classmate Colin.
Ciemny: I would like to say I’m very thankful for the experiences and opportunities I have been given that have been the key to my success. My family, friends and the Haddonfield school system have all been a huge help in my academic achievements. And finally I would like to say congratulations to all of my classmates and good luck to them in the years to come.
Basner: Thank you to the HMHS faculty, community and to my parents for enriching the experience of the students and preparing us to unlock our potentials for great things ahead.
Fonshell: I would just like to thank my family, teachers and classmates for always supporting me and for making my time as a student in Haddonfield so wonderful. This town truly is a very special place to have grown up in.
