Groton seniors graduate twice this year

Groton High School’s (GHS) class of 2020 may have set a new precedent when the COVID-19 pandemic took them to Ross Field for their graduation ceremony last June, as opposed to decades of graduations held in the gymnasium. It was such a hit that the class of 2021 will follow suit this year.

Among the 58 students who will receive their GHS diplomas on June 26, seven of them already received an associate degree at Tompkins Cortland Community College’s commencement ceremony earlier this month: Emma DeMatteo, Jacey Hatfield, Kalib Manning, Jackson Slade, Framke Vitale, Tenley Webb and Bowen Zheng.

Babs Carr, a teacher at GHS, has been teaching concurrent enrollment courses for about 20 years. GHS has had a program in place with TC3 wherein students may take such courses and earn both high school and college credits simultaneously, but for the past seven years, Carr has been the coordinator of the CollegeNow early degree program.

“This program provides students with an amazing opportunity to earn their associate degree while in high school,” Carr said. “That means many things like cost savings, more flexibility in their schedules to do things like study abroad, dual majors, internships, the Disney [College] Program, better choice of classes and dorms when going to college because they are not freshmen and more.”

DeMatteo, who is the senior class president, has also been involved in student and class councils, Girl Scouts and Interact Club, and has played varsity softball, basketball, track and field, and soccer, and will be playing soccer at Russell Sage College in the fall where she will be a student in its Physical Education Department.

“The Early College Degree Program has brought me so many new opportunities,” DeMatteo said. “I have become more independent and confident, and it has helped put me ahead of my peers, as I have a two-year degree under my belt. I am so thankful that I did this. It has helped me grow and learn how to better advocate for myself and manage my time.”

Hatfield has been the vice president of the Interact Club and treasurer for both the National Honor Society and Spanish Club. She had the opportunity to travel to Spain while at GHS. She also played varsity soccer and ran cross-country.

“I’m attending Clarkson University with a major of political science, and I am in their pre-law program,” Hatfield said.

Manning will attend Alfred University this fall, and while his course of study is undecided, he will play football.

At GHS, Manning has played football, basketball, and golf and has been a member of student council and National Honor Society.
Manning is very thankful for the program for teaching him how to work hard and for putting him “in a great position right out of high school.”

“It was no easy task, but with hard work and dedication, even over the summer, I was able to accomplish it,” Manning said. “I am glad I got the opportunity to get my associate degree, and I hope other students take the opportunity.”

Slade has also kept busy at GHS with basketball, football, track and cross-country, and has also been a member of Interact Club, National Honor Society and the FFA.

“The program has provided me with a door-opening opportunity and experience,” Slade said. “It has given me a sneak peek into college life and made the worries of future professors, classes and homework less intimidating, and the chance to excel above my peers and apply the credits I have received to my future college degree. It set the foundation for my college career, and I am extremely grateful to have been given such an amazing opportunity.”

Slade will attend SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry and major in natural resource engineering.

Vitale will be majoring in marketing management at Syracuse University this fall. She is the GHS senior class vice president, president of Interact Club and National Honor Society, and a member of student and class councils, Tri-M, drama club and Spanish club.

Varsity basketball, soccer and track have also kept Vitale busy, and she was a delegate to Empire Girls’ State and attended the Teen Leadership Conference at Ithaca College.

“Through this opportunity, I have been able to take advanced classes and push myself to take on various challenges and obstacles,” Vitale said. “The program set me ahead of my fellow peers and will greatly impact my future endeavors. I feel more prepared for college and can use the credits I have already obtained to receive a bachelor’s degree in a shorter period of time. I am very thankful to have been given this opportunity.”

Webb has participated in student and class councils and has run track at GHS. She is also a member of Interact Club and National Honor Society. SUNY Oswego is Webb’s destination this fall, where she will study meteorology.

Zheng will study engineering at Columbia University in the fall. He has been named valedictorian for the GHS class of 2021 and is also a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M and student council.

Carr said she loves “seeing the pride students have after completing their degree and knowing they have made a huge accomplishment before graduating high school. If I can help prepare students or give them an edge or leg up to help them succeed in college, I feel I have done my part as a teacher.”

Groton on the Inside appears weekly. Submit news ideas to Linda Competillo, lmc10@cornell.edu or 607-227-4922. 

In brief:  
 
Anastasia postponed 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the GHS musical “Anastasia” has been moved to May 26 and May 27 at 5:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, go to ShowTix4U.com and search “Groton Central School.” Livestream tickets: $15 per device.

Graduation speakers named 

Groton High School’s graduation ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. June 26 at Ross Field. Valedictorian is Bowen Zheng with an overall weighted GPA of 100.257. Salutatorian is Kaija Hoyt, whose overall weighted GPA is 98.868. Congratulations to both of these hard-working and accomplished students!

TST/GHS students of the month 

The following Groton students were recognized as outstanding students of the month for April at the TST BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center: Brooke Elster, Culinary Arts; Adam Howser, Heavy Equipment; and Austin Jacobs, Heavy Equipment.

These students are chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership, citizenship, work ethic and attendance, and should be compassionate, honest, trustworthy, responsible and a positive role model.

Congratulations to these exceptional career and tech students in our school!

Junior Firefighter Camp

Registration is open for Groton Recreation’s Junior Firefighter Camp, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly July 12 to 14 at Groton Memorial Park on Sykes Street. Camp is for youth ages 5-12. Register at https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/grotonrecreation.