VINELAND – Class of 2019 historian Carly D’Arrigo explained the Vineland High School senior class logo “B19 Things.”
“It’s all about what we’ve done and the things to come,” she said, heading into Gittone Stadium on Wednesday with 634 classmates to collect a diploma. “We’re moving up and moving out.”
VHS Principal Suzette DeMarchi commended the first senior class she has seen through to graduation.
“Class of 2019, this is your day,” she said. “I commend you;you have proven over and over again that nothing is beyond your reach.”
If they needed any reminding, salutatorian Rucha Shah happily recapped their senior year.
“As the years have passed, we’ve grown together and shared countless amazing stories,” she said. “Just this year alone, our football team won their first playoff game and defeated Millville three times.”
“Our boys’ soccer team beat the Prep for the first time in 30 years,” Shah said. “Six senior members of the boys and girls track teams advanced to the states.”
The VHS Marching Band won accolades and the VHS Academic Team added hardware to its trophy case.
Many graduates, scattered throughout the bleachers, marked their own big moments with personal victories.
Marilynn Miguel is headed to Harvard University on a full scholarship.
After organizing a fundraiser to help foster children, Tadae King-Williams is now registering her “Tadae’s Foster for Tomorrow” as an officialnonprofit organization.
Some students recalled when their life-altering bigmoments struck them.
“I was about 5 years old copying what my dad drew and drawing the cartoons I used to watch,” Jibril Bey said. Now, he’s developed his own style, planning a career as agraphic designer and cartoonist.
For Tiana Villalongo, it camejunior year when she took Intro of Psychology with teacher Jaime Williams.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said, but in that classroom she found her calling.
Villalongo is headed to Rider University with a goal of pursuing a psychology career in the clinical field and working with children.
“I used to be really shy,” said Jailyn Villanueva, often overcome by stage fright even when facing a friendly audience of friends and family.
Then she dared to step out of her comfort zone and take a theater class.
Her teacher, Caitlyn Hughes, saw potential and encouraged her to take on a solo performance.
“She heard my voice and said I could do it,” Villanueva said, crediting Hughes will helping her to find self-confidence on the stage.
When Yovanzka Cubi Rentas woke up the morning of her graduation, her big moment came when she thought of her cousin, Aisha Lopez Rentas, 14, who died in an ATV crash in 2015.
Cubi Rentas once thought they would celebrate their graduation walking into Gittone Stadium together soshe did what she could to make that happen.
It’s said some people wear their hearts on their sleeves.
“I’m wearing my heart on my hat,” Rentas said, tipping her graduation cap forward to revealher cousin’s photograph with the message, “I know you’re looking down from heaven and proud I did it for you, cousin.”
Valedictorian Sara Parks offered her fellow graduates the inspiration she found in the game of Monopoly.
“Regardless of what cards you picked up along our journey or how long it took to get around the board, you’re here,” she said. “No matter where you’re from, what you started with, what you were given, and what you had to earn, you are here."
“Despite the work, illnesses, loss, heartbreak, financial struggles, or whatever you had to work through or overcome to get to this point, you are here,” she said. “You did that.”
Parks urged the graduatesto continue with their “next lap around the board.”
“This time it will be different,” Parks said. “This time, we have experience.”
At the end of the month, Meadoe Harrell-Alvarez will pack what she can into her 2006 Jeep Patriot and head southto Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, N.C. where she plans to study sports medicine.
Now in control of herlife, Harrell-Alvarez said looksforward to learning about “something I really like” in an area that she loves.
Ennis Thompson, who was celebrating his 18th birthday, is heading to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, to start his basic training.
Military service is a family tradition, but Thompson said, “I did it because it’s what I want.”
De’Andre Tull-Kennedy, 18, passed the civil service exam and is eager to work as a corrections officer.
“I want to start my career,” he said, “But my mom wants me to go to college.”
He has the option of going to Montclair State University, where hecan continue to play football and study criminal justice.
“It’s the hardest decision,” Tull-Kennedy said. “I’m still thinkingabout it.”
Class president Jada Morgan urged her classmates not to be confined by their past and continue to grow. She cited her parents as inspiration for overcoming adversity early in their lives.
“It is alright to fall down nine times as long as you get up 10,” Morgan said.
Gabe Guenther was feeling optimistic about his future.
Asked what he pictured his life will be like when he returns for his class 10-year reunion, he grinned.
“Who knows,” Guenther said. “I feel full of unlimited potential, ready for anything.”
Here is the list of the Vineland High School Class of 2019 released by Vineland Public Schools.
· Lazaro Abrajan
· Nailah Acevedo
· Chris Acevedo
· Jorge Acosta
· Ethan Acosta
· Simileoluwa Adenugba
· Ciena Afanador
· Zachary Afanador
· Faith Ahl
· Amelia Jiayne Albarracin
· Maria Aldama
· Daryana Aldarondo Soto
· Hector Alicea
· Reem Alkheel
· Alec Allonardo
· Ervin Alvarado
· Angeline Alvarado
· Jullian Alvarez
· Brandon Anderson
· Christopher Andujar Mayas
· Katia Antonetti
· Javier Aponte
· Aliyah Aponte
· Cristopher Arellano-Crisantos
· Pamela Argueta Ayala
· Brendy Arroyo
· Cory Asselta
· Tyler Austin
· Ian Ayala
· Alexander Ayala
· Orejesu Ayeni
· Aliyah Ayers
· Sofia Babenko
· Sonialys Badillo
· Nickell Bailey
· Dashawn Baker
· Aminata Bangura
· Elisabeth Baranovskaya
· Zerian Barrera
· Destiny Barrow
· Kassandra Batie
· Yiovani Bautista Chavez
· Judith Bautista Cruz
· Anahi Bautista Santiago
· Matthew Bell
· Felinda Benda
· Adrian Bermudez
· Jennifer Bermudez
· Emanuel Bermudez Cruz
· Erlentz Bernabe
· Jibril Bey
· Brandon Beyer
· Michael Bianco
· Philip Blackwell
· Isaiah Blakely
· Issac Blakely
· Erykah Bluitt
· Ervin Bogan
· Xavier Bogan
· Michael Bokma
· Michael Boyle
· Brooke Brady
· Jasir Brooks
· Tyarra Broughton
· Juan Brown
· Armony Brown
· Jewelyn Bruce
· Brooke Bryant
· Amanda Burger
· Marianne Burgess
· Isabel Burgos
· Raymond Burkett
· Tanner Bushman
· Tyrek Byrd
· Alexander Caccese
· Pierre Cadet
· Robert Caine
· Raesha Campbell
· Djorkaeff Campbell
· Deyvid Campos Barrera
· Janeth Cano
· Anthony Carbone
· Yeisanai Cardona Torres
· Yelitsa Cardoso Aguilar
· Consuelo Cardoza Chavez
· Amber Carney
· Gabriel Carr
· Elena Carrasquillo
· Denise Carter
· Cambrie Castillo-Ore
· Jannise Castro
· Trinity Castro
· Deyaneris Castro Fantauzzi
· Burak Ceylan
· Aaron Chaney
· Nathan Charriez
· Christian Chipman
· Andi Choko
· Payton Church
· Bianca Cicchino
· Angel Cintron
· Ayanna Clayton
· Crystal Clemente
· Ahmir Clyburn
· Davonni Coleman
· Richard Collado
· Cyd Collazo
· Kyron Collins
· Giovanna Colon
· Alanis Colon-Carattini
· Kevin Conde
· Trust Cooper
· Victoria Coralluzzo
· Christopher Cordero
· Valerie Correa Santiago
· Ariana Cortez
· Angel Cortez
· Tykiera Coursey
· Mackenzie Crenshaw
· Yomara Crespo
· Siani Cross
· Brianna Cruz
· Edgar Cruz
· Chancler Cruz
· Jimmy Cruz
· Isabella Cruz
· William Cruz
· Celia Cruz-Carrasco
· Michael Cubi
· Yovanzka Cubi Rentas
· Cesar Cuevas
· Luis Cuevas Hernandez
· Rayniero Cuevas Matos
· Marbella Cuevas-Hernandez
· Felix Cumbrera
· Carly D'Arrigo
· Anthony Dagostino
· Ja'Vone Darden
· Darly Darius
· Natalie Davila
· Riley Day
· Tyshaun Day
· Samantha DeCarlo
· Ashley Dejesus
· Naisha Delacruz
· Ariel Delarosa
· Josue Delgado
· Dayshawn Denny
· Ayanna Diaz
· Angela Diaz
· Kerelyn Diaz
· Everardo Diaz Peralta
· Humberto Diaz Vega
· Raymond Diggs
· Marlenee Dominguez
· Tre' Drummond
· Aylin Durdu
· Shanya Durham
· Shane Ecker
· Araceli Emiliano-Villegas
· Tamiya Empson
· Alexys Ennals
· Aliyah Escobar
· Nyzaren Escobar Hill
· Karelyn Espinal Fernandez
· Yuleidy Espinal Minaya
· Nicole Estevez
· Aline Estrada
· Emily Fairman
· Joseph Farina
· Karlee Farrell
· Mahogany Farrington
· Faith Farside
· Brandon Feltes
· Ana Fernandez Toribio
· Storm Fields
· Siani Fiester Mason
· Ciaralyn Figueroa
· Giovanni Figueroa
· Joshua Figueroa Feliciano
· Itzel Figueroa Pinto
· Amanda Fiocchi
· Isabella Fiorenza
· Zoe Fisher
· Kollin Fleeks
· Gabriel Fonseca
· Jayaun Gaines
· Yeison Gamez
· Christian Garcia
· John Garcia Del Valle
· Jialene Garcia Pichardo
· Noeli Garcia Venancio
· Ashley Garo
· Kyle Garrett
· Isaac Garrett
· Natalie Garrett
· Russell Garrison
· Victoria Garton
· Jacob Garvey
· Patrick Garvey
· Musa Geftic
· Gabriela George Rivas
· Ryan Giesen
· Dominique Gillespie
· Marisa Giraud
· Jacob Gloway
· Josue Gomez
· Nicole Gonzalez
· Jema Gonzalez
· Anthony Gonzalez
· Kyara Gonzalez
· Josiah Gonzalez
· Cielo Goris
· Alanah Gould
· Joseph Govan
· Kayliegh Grabowy
· Raymond Graiff
· Lyla Gray
· Olivia Greco
· Nikolay Groshev
· Gabe Guenther
· Evin Guilford
· Samuel Guzman
· Emerson Hadnot
· Jacob Hall
· Courtney Hannah
· Nathaniel Hardie
· Otis Harold
· Anisa Harper
· Meadoe Harrell-Alvarez
· Ja-Cynta Harris
· Tiaone Harris
· Yadira Haskins
· James Hatch
· Richard Hatcher
· Kylee Hayes
· Tiniera Heath
· Ajanay Henry-Grant
· Briel Herbert
· Jay Heredia
· Alex Hernandez
· Karla Hernandez
· Ebelin Hernandez
· Cesar Hernandez
· Yaline Hernandez
· Maykon Hernandez Bautista
· Nelson Hidalgo
· Anna Hines
· Ashton Houbary
· David Hunsberger
· Dashawn Hunter
· Ryan Irwin
· La'Keira Jackson
· Tariq James
· Stephen Janetta
· Brianna Jannone
· Paisley Jeannette
· Alexis Jennings
· Allen Jiang
· Wendy Jiang
· Jimmy Jimenez
· Julio Jimenez Marrero
· Dorell Johnson
· Alizah Jones
· Elizah Jones
· Christian Jones
· Andretti Joynes
· Juana Juarez
· Alicia Jusino
· Sude Karagoz
· Lourdes Karpinski
· Andy Kashani
· Lilith Kengeter
· Tyler Kimmel
· Francis Kinder
· Christopher King
· De'Chyna King
· Chris-Ali King
· Jay'Tyhra King
· Tadae King-Williams
· Quajon Kinsey
· Kara Kuchinski
· Jason Lagunes
· Cassidy Layman
· Hassan Lee
· Jesmary Leon
· Roberto Leon
· Francisco Leverett
· Dwayne Lewis
· Morgan Lincks
· Fabricio Lobo
· Justin Lock
· Nakayiah Lockhart
· Ana Lopez
· Janet Lopez
· Joel Lopez
· Paola Lopez Cordero
· Janice Lopez-Arce
· Austin Lozano
· Joseph Lucas
· William Luciano
· Cazendra Luciano
· Anais Lugo
· Maria Lugo
· Dileisha Lugo Perozo
· Giavanna Lupi
· Tamant Maceia
· Elijah Mackey
· Aaron Mackow
· Alachia Maddox
· Ana Maines
· Madaija Maldonado
· Jhamir Malloy
· Daniel Malone
· Tiyone Manning
· Mirian Marcial
· Mariah Marlow
· Christopher Marrero
· Ambbar Marrero
· Angel Marrero
· Nerialys Marrero
· Ronald Marroquin
· Nyah Marshall
· Keyla Martinez
· Raymier Martinez
· Colby Martinez
· Deliethe Martinez
· Amy Martinez Perez
· Catalina Martinez Ramos
· Gabriela Matias
· Leonardo Matias Cruz
· Samantha Matos
· McKinleigh Mattie
· Nyasia Mayas
· Carly Mayhew
· Casey Mazzara
· Edgar Medina
· Joshua Medina
· Daniel Medina
· Jordan Medina
· Trey Medina
· Erika Melgar Avalos
· Gustavo Mendoza Chavez
· Daniel Merighi
· Nayeli Merino
· Mahogany Merritt
· Mariya Merritt
· Mickey Middlebrook
· Marilynn Miguel
· Blaze Milburn
· Zierra Miranda
· Skye Miranda
· Hailey Mollik
· Tiffani Monroe
· Mike Monte
· Anahi Montero
· Jessica Montgomery
· Iman Moosvi
· Radames Morales
· Jada Morgan
· Mark Morris
· Chakyra Moss
· Katherine Motoa
· Elinette Muniz
· Brianna Munyon
· Megan Murie
· Niyana Murray
· Andrew Naigle
· Zachary Nash
· Gabriell Navarro
· Cristian Navas Campos
· Arianna Nazario
· Alexa Nelson
· Malaysia Nelson
· Mackenzie Newman
· Miranda Nieves
· Samuel Nunez
· Eric O'Brien
· Isaac Ochoa
· Victor Ochoa
· Jean Carlos Oliveras Torres
· Celeste Olivo
· Ezequiel Olmedo
· Haylee Olsen
· Alexia Opromollo
· Christian Oquendo
· Bennie Orange
· Ivan Ortega-Gomez
· Richard Ortiz
· Nyasia Ortiz
· Gabriel Oyola
· Melissa Palmer
· Grace Panzini
· John Paredes
· Sara Parks
· Jaykrashna Patel
· Nisha Patel
· Priya Patel
· Vedant Patel
· George Percival
· Abigail Perez
· Sebastian Perez
· Gabriella Perez
· Hector Perez
· Yadriel Perez Cancela
· Jaycob Perez Ramos
· Yariana Perez-Ramos
· Ernest Pettus
· Caleb Pierce
· Jarod Pierce
· Wilson Polanco
· Kayla Pomales
· Lucas Portadin
· Joshua Powell
· Broderick Powers
· Gabrielle Pratts
· Harold Price
· Darius Purnell
· Cameron Purnell
· Dontae Purnell
· Janessa Quiles
· Ti'Jaea Quiles
· Yasmin Quiroz
· Christino Ramirez
· Carlos Ramirez Dominguez
· Josmar Ramirez Hernandez
· Melissa Ramirez-Montes
· Gabriel Ramos
· Emmanuel Ramos
· William Ramos
· Joyce Reaves
· James Repella
· Kaitlyn Reska
· Zion Resto
· Ezequiel Resto
· Alanis Reyes Moreno
· Jason Reynolds
· Zachary Reynolds
· Ian Reynolds
· Mason Ricci
· Kian Ricketts
· Caleb Ricketts
· Curtis Riggins
· Gabriella Rivas
· Erick Rivas Avalos
· Danaijah Rivera
· Jesse Rivera
· Luis Rivera
· Luis Rivera
· Siara Rivera
· Siera Rivera
· Aaron Rivera
· Elijah Rivera
· Kayleigh Rivera
· Luis Rivera
· Nelson Rivera
· Angel Rivera Perez
· Joely Rivera Vega
· Wendy Rivera-Lopez
· Leonidas Rivera-Ortiz
· Benjamin Robinson
· George Robinson
· Karly Robison
· Angelica Rodriguez
· Elijah Rodriguez
· Joshua Rodriguez
· Rineishca Rodriguez
· Yoana Rodriguez
· Victoria Rodriguez
· Carlos Rodriguez
· Isaac Rodriguez
· Jazzlyn Rodriguez
· Ray Rodriguez
· Yaely Rodriguez
· Luis Rodriguez Mercado
· Jeysmarie Rodriguez Ramos
· Desteny Rodriguez Rivera
· Merisa Roig
· Brandon Roldan
· Ahmeer Rolle
· Isaac Roman
· Jose Roman
· Gladys Roman
· Julianna Roman
· E'Lexus Rosado
· Cristian Rosado Matos
· Carmen Rosario
· Jesus Rosario
· Destiny Ruiz
· Marixel Ruiz
· Tyler Russell
· Jared Russo
· Maricruz Salazar
· Kenneth Samsel
· Felix Sanchez
· Angeles Sanchez
· Jose Sanchez
· Denise Sanchez
· Jhovany Sanchez
· Bryan Sanchez-Bautista
· Jessica Sanchez-Miranda
· Javier Santana Martinez
· Diego Santiago
· Liz Santiago
· Jessica Santiago
· Angel Santiago
· Brianna Santiago
· Isaias Santiago-Feliciano
· Veronica Santos
· Marisa Sauro
· James Sbrana
· Nathan Schnell
· Amanda Sciolis
· Uriah Seabron
· Abiana Serrano
· Rucha Shah
· Igor Shanava
· Dustin Sherban
· Katie Siciliano
· Christina Singh
· Kamar Skeete
· Germaine Smart-Marshall
· Devon Smith
· Bobby Smith
· Logan Smith
· Joel Soler
· Cesar Sosa
· Maredsy Sosa
· Yozelyn Soto
· Solimar Soto
· Leoneil Soto
· Deanna Soto
· Aramis Sotomayor
· Elisha Sotrah
· Caleb Soyer
· Andrew Spatola
· Patrick St Jean
· Camron Stahl
· Christopher Steelman
· Ethin Stickle
· Raheem Sutherland
· Dovale Taylor
· Edwin Terron
· Maya Terry
· Sakshi Thakkar
· Davondre Thomas
· Rontrelle Thomas
· Ennis Thompson
· Andrew Torres
· Angel Torres
· Jeremy Torres
· Cristyan Torres Alvarez
· Julianna Tsangaris
· Anthony Tucci
· De'Andre Tull-Kennedy
· Thomas Urgo
· Adryanna Valentin
· Natalie Vaquero Porras
· Lucero Vargas Cruz
· Lameik Vasquez
· Henesis Vasquez
· Shane Vastano
· Tiffany Vazquez
· Jakob Vazquez
· Crystal Vazquez
· Jalisha Vega
· Beatriz Velazquez
· Natalyn Velez
· Melanie Veliz
· George Vera
· Tiana Villalongo
· Jailyn Villanueva
· Kevin Villanueva Contreras
· Francis Justine Virtucio
· Madeleine Walters
· Matthew Ward
· Gabriel Watson
· Kiara Webster
· Brandon Whilden
· Gailin Whitehead
· Gabrielle Whittle
· Tanyra Williams
· Brooklyn Williams
· Zyaire Williams
· Shariya Woods
· Ronald Yang
· Leo You
· Vincent Young
· Ashley Zabala
· Zhi Wei Zheng
Deb Marko has been a The Daily Journal reporter for 30-plus years and currently covers breaking news and education. Got a story idea? Call 856-563-5256. Follow me on Twitter: @dmarko_dj Instagram: deb.marko.dj
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