High School Principal Darrin B. Paschke gave the introductions, and recalled his own graduation from Fredonia. “This Fredonia family has changed lives in purposeful and wonderful ways,” he stated. “This is the 28th time I’ve attended Fredonia’s Commencement exercises, including 32 years ago today, for my own graduation from Fredonia, and I still get a shiver in the core of my being when the ceremony begins.”

Paschke congratulated the class and turned things over to Student Council Vice President Taylor Lemiszko, who provided the welcome speech to those in attendance. “This ceremony signifies much more than simply the conclusion of our time at Fredonia,” Lemiszko noted. “Soon we will each walk the stage as a Hillbilly one last time, and start a new beginning.”

Salutatorian Maggie Mignoli gave a speech which focused on reflection and gratitude for the little things in life.

“The moment I was informed that I would be giving this speech, I pondered what exactly I wanted to admit,” she said. “I reflected upon my last 12 years at this school…The smallest of things stood out to me. These small moments, while seemingly insignificant, are incredibly important, as even the smallest of gestures can have a large impact on an individual.”

The Fredonia High School Class of 2019 stands for a photo in King’s Concert Music Hall at SUNY Fredonia.

Mignoli closed out her speech by saying, “Be mindful of who you are and what you stand for, and make sure the moments you’ve already made and the ones you will make, are positive. Choose to be kind, choose to be true to yourself and choose to live a life that matters.”

Two musical selections were performed brilliantly, following the salutatorian and valedictorian addresses. “The Prayer” by David Foster & Carole Bayer Sager, followed the salutatorian address, and was performed by class vocalists Elizabeth O’Connell and Marcus Seastedt.

“Technology” by Jim Casella, followed the valedictorian address, and was performed by class percussionists Calan Britz, Jake Davis, Neil Gens, Trace MacKenzie, Maggie Mignoli, Kevin Redfield, Caleb Reynolds and Marcus Seastedt.

Valedictorian Kaelyn Zebraski’s speech dotted the somewhat serious notes of moving forward in life with humor and lit up the room with her positivity and confidence. “Life has a way of making everything fit into place, maybe not at the exact time you want it to happen, but there are reasons for everything,” she noted. “With each challenge comes learning and growth, no struggle is exactly like the other.”

Zebraski closed out her speech with a call for her classmaters to remember everything Fredonia has given them. “High school, you have been one wild rollercoaster, and now its time to get off,” she stated. “Wherever the next chapter in your life takes you, I hope you take a minute to remember the memories, knowledge, lifelong friendships and life lessons you’ve gained from this time together.”

The commencement’s keynote speaker for the evening, Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello, also took a tone of reflection in his speech, as he himself was a graduate of the Fredonia High School Class of 1985.

“I sat here in those seats 34 years ago as a graduate,” he said, recalling. “My plan after college was to go to Chicago and be a stockbroker. I would come home and work in Sunset Bay one last summer and I got an opportunity to stay here and take a job. Within a year, I had started my own business right here.”

Borrello encouraged the graduates to think about Chautauqua County as not just a home, but a place that has so much to offer, before concluding his Commencement speech with a surprise for the class of 2019 that nobody could’ve expected.

“Billionaire Robert F. Smith went to Morehouse College to give a commencement speech, and in the end, he actually announced that he would pay off all the student loans of that class of 2019,” Borrello said, pausing for the audience’s laughter. “That’s not going to happen here today, but as a token of my appreciation for being here tonight, I would like to buy dinner for each and every member of the 2019 class, so you’ll all be receiving a $20 certificate to come have dinner at Cabana Sam’s.”

Congratulations Fredonia High School Class of 2019!