Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn holds 146th commencement exercises

Members of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn’s Senior Class took part in the historic Academy’s 146th Commencement Exercises on Sunday, June 5th, 2016, inside the John Lockwood Auditorium Theatre, named for Adelphi’s founder.  The new graduates are looking forward to continuing their academic careers in college and pursuing a variety of rewarding career paths. The Class of 2016 continues Adelphi’s rich tradition of ensuring a 100 percent college application, acceptance and attendance rate. The graduates looked back fondly on their time at Adelphi and expressed excitement about the future.

Class of 2016 Valedictorian Arthur Furman delivered an emotional address at the Commencement that demonstrated the profound impact that Adelphi’s commitment to educating the “total child” can have on students of all ages. Furman said that the warm, nurturing environment he encountered when first arriving at Adelphi helped him to discover his voice – figuratively, as a student debating issues inside the classroom, and literally, as a talented singer performing on the stage. He credited the dedicated professionals he met at Adelphi with helping him improve as a student, performer and person. Furman was selected to serve on the Academy’s prestigious Student Advisory Board, secured starring roles in Adelphi’s productions of “Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Disney Musical Revue,” “Bye Bye Birdie” and “A Beatles Musical Revue,” performed as a member of the Adelphi Performing Chorus and was a member of the Academy’s 2014-2015 Metro League basketball championship team. Furman will attend Hunter College in the Fall and is excited to enroll in the Pre-Med Program there.

Co-Salutatorian Milana Gurevich spoke at the Commencement about her most cherished memories at Adelphi, both inside and outside the classroom. She also proudly served as a member of the Student Advisory Board and expressed her gratitude to the dedicated faculty members who helped her discover her love of singing and performing as part of Adelphi’s Theater Arts Program. Gurevich starred as Audrey in the Winter 2015 production of “Little Shop of Horrors” and Dorris MacAfee in 2016’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” She also starred in “A Disney Musical Revue” and “A Beatles Musical Revue” and performed regularly at events as part of Adelphi’s Performing Chorus. She will attend Brooklyn College in the Fall and, like Furman, she will enroll in the Pre-Med Program.  “I want to become a pediatrician,” she said. “I want to help kids.”

Co-Salutatorian Alan Khanukov also spoke at the Commencement, echoing his classmates’ appreciation for the dedication of Adelphi’s faculty and staff during his time as a student. For Khanukov, the day was extra special because his sister Stephanie, Valedictorian of the Class of 2014, was there to deliver the Commencement Address. Khanukov joked that while his sister was always the consummate student, his journey to addressing his classmates as a leader of the graduating Class of 2016 had a few more bumps in the road. But as he grew and matured as an individual and a student at Adelphi, Khanukov took advantage of all that the Academy had to offer. He got involved in after-school activities like the Theater Arts Program, starring in several productions and serving as a member of the Stage Crew. He became a valuable member of the Academy’s Boys Varsity Basketball Team, leading the Panthers to the 2014-2015 Metro League championship. He was also selected to become a member of the Student Advisory Board, a testament to his growth as a leader within his class and school community. Khanukov will also attend Brooklyn College in the Fall, pursuing a career in business and real estate development.

Brandon Siedman came to Adelphi just this past year, but formed an instant and lasting bond with his classmates and teachers.  He said he really came to appreciate the different classes Adelphi had to offer.  He is excited to enroll in the Culinary Program at Kingsborough Community College in the Fall and joked that he hopes to become the next Gordon Ramsey.  “I’m sure I’ll have to put up with people like Gordon Ramsey before I can be like him, but I’m looking forward to it,” Siedman joked.

Daniel Rahman, whose Adelphi career dates back to Middle School, will be attending New York Institute of Technology in the Fall and will pursue a degree in computer science.

Rahman’s classmate since Middle School, Carmelo Oszustowicz, is also pursuing a career in computer programming/computer science.  He will attend Bramson ORT College in the Fall.  He, too, looked back fondly on his time at Adelphi and was happy to have his brother Chester and sister Sarah, both Adelphi alumni, in attendance at the ceremony. “The best part of Adelphi was the people I met,” Oszustowicz said.

Hongrui Li is known by his classmates as “the human calculator.” His excellence in mathematics and physics has inspired him to pursue a degree in engineering at Binghamton University in the Fall.

Li’s classmate Beckie Tin will join him at Binghamton University, where she will study economics.  She enjoyed studying a variety of subjects at Adelphi. She especially enjoyed her time as a member of the Academy’s Model UN program, which she said gave her a unique chance to get to know more people outside the classroom. A talented artist, Tin was selected to submit her artwork to Congressman Daniel Donovan’s Congressional Art Competition. Tin met the Congressman and was excited to learn that her artwork would be displayed in his offices for the entire year!

Tin joined another talented artist at the Congressional Art Competition – her classmate, Kylar Wang. Wang’s artwork will also be featured in Congressman Donovan’s offices throughout the year.  She will attend the University of California, San Diego in the Fall, where she will pursue a career in media, specifically in film and advertising.  Besides the excellent weather, the move to California will provide her the chance to explore more states in the U.S., Wang said.  She said that she truly appreciated the Adelphi experience.  “The small size of the classes really allowed me to get close to everybody,” she said.

Asher Chu will join Wang at the University of California, San Diego, where he will pursue a degree in international business.  He said that he will miss his classmates and teachers.

Jevaughn Purdie will pursue a degree in business at in the Fall.  He, too, was a member of the 2014-2015 Metro League champion basketball team at Adelphi and said he will definitely miss his classmates.

Aaron Moy, who spent his entire high school career at Adelphi, will pursue a career in engineering/electronics at New York City College of Technology in the Fall.  He looked back fondly on his time at Adelphi, especially his time spent as a member of the Science Club, through which he was able to build custom catapults and rockets and spring them into action.  “I’ve had a very nice experience here,” Moy said. “I’ve made some really good friends.”

Academic Coordinator and Academy Guidance Counselor Ms. Patrizia Vicino, who started working with the seniors in September to finalize their college plans, said she is extremely proud of the Class of 2016.  “As their College Counselor, I’ve spent so much time with the seniors, closely guiding them through the college application process to help them reach their goals,” Ms. Vicino said. “It’s so rewarding to see them all receive acceptance to the institutions of their choice and the various career paths they’ve chosen reflects their wonderfully diverse nature.”

Adelphi’s Head of School Ms. Iphigenia Romanos remarked at the Class of 2016’s extraordinary talents, which were nourished and cultivated during their time at the historic Bay Ridge school. “The Class of 2016 is composed of students from all different backgrounds, with so many different talents and interests,” Ms. Romanos said. “Each of their unique, individual stories join together to form the Adelphi story, which is a story of diversity, dedication and success. I have no doubt that each of these graduates will continue to build upon the foundation of hard work instilled in them during their time at Adelphi and I wish them all the greatest success in their future endeavors.”

As the oldest private, independent, continuing, coeducational, college-preparatory day school in the borough and one of the oldest in the nation, Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, “the little school of big dreams” has been “effectively preparing  young people for college, career, and life, one day at a time” for over 150 years. Founded in 1863 and located in the historic Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, Adelphi enrolls students from two years of age through twelfth grade.  A strong emphasis is placed on small class size, individualized attention, self expression, critical thinking and challenging hands-on learning through Adelphi’s founding philosophy and dedication to the education of the “total child.” Adelphi students excel within a small, intimate, safe, caring, nurturing, and secure environment through Adelphi’s core values and founding principles of pride, tradition, spirit, and excellence. The student-teacher ratio is 8 to 1 and Adelphi is a New York State Regents Exempt Program with a 100% college application, acceptance and attendance rate. A founding member of the Coalition of Essential Schools, Adelphi receives its charter from the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and has been a member of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools since 1928. Ms. Iphigenia Romanos serves as Head of School.

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