The 2008 Eagles have officially flown from their nest in Bethlehem, using the stage of the University at Albany’s SEFCU arena as a springboard to enter onto a much larger stage the world.
Bethlehem Central School District held its 74th commencement on Friday, June 27, at the University at Albany to the cheers of thousands of family and friends who filled the bleachers in order to catch a glimpse of their loved ones clad in black robes making their way across the stage. Aside from a few jokes from students and administrators, and the occasional beach ball that made its way into the disapproving hands of a nearby teacher, the graduation ceremony was heartfelt and filled with sage advice.
Congratulations Bethlehem Central Class of 2008, you’ve all done a good job. We may not be perfect, but you are far closer to being so than Tom Brady and New England Patriots will ever be,` said graduating senior Brendan Herrmann.
Herrmann listed the individual schools that make up the district, whose students ultimately end up together in the high school, to loud applause from different sections of the graduating class as each of the schools was named.
Fellow graduate Kelly McCall delivered the opening remarks for the commencement and offered some words of advice to her class.
`This is our time to go out into the world and become anything and everything we desire to be,` McCall said. `We will leave here tonight and move on in different directions some of us will go to war, some of us will deal with tragedy, while others are destined to be great, but wherever we go, whatever path we choose, we have nothing to fear for we will never be alone on this day, we will always have that parent or that teacher or that friend and no matter where you are or what we are doing, you will recall all of the times you shared.`
During the Bethlehem Central High School Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of `Fiddler’s Fury` and the Choraliers’ performance of `Like An Eagle,` several colorful beach balls appeared in the block of nearly 400 students in the center of the arena as graduates kept them afloat by hitting them back in forth. Spectators laughed and cheered as they bounced around, and would boo loudly when the balls landed on the sidelines and were snagged and taken away by teachers and administrators.
A 1980 graduate of Bethlehem High also took the stage that day. Bethlehem police detective Bruce Oliver was inducted into the Bethlehem Central High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
Oliver, who was been the high school’s resource officer since 1999, was inducted by Scott Landry, the Hall of Fame’s committee chairman and assistant high school principal.
`Bruce Oliver’s pride in, and loyalty to, the town he grew up in resonated with the Hall of Fame committee,` Landry said in a release. `It was noted by many that wherever Bruce is, and whatever role he is in at the time, when both students and adults approach him, he makes them feel important.`
Oliver joined the Bethlehem Police Department in 1986 and was promoted to detective in 2003. He is the seventh Bethlehem graduate to be inducted to the Hall of Fame since the district created it in 2004.
Retiring Superintendent Les Loomis congratulated the class during his last commencement speech in the district, saying he, too, was graduating with the Class of 2008.
`I want to thank the community for the opportunity to serve as your superintendent for the past 21 years,` Loomis told the roaring crowd.
Michael Tebbano is the district’s new superintendent.
Bethlehem Board of Education President James Lytle, who acknowledged Loomis’ departure, delivered the keynote address.
`Let me first of all acknowledge Dr. Loomis’ retirement after 21 years. Being superintendent can be about the hardest, most thankless, and challenging job at least this side of managing the New York Mets,` Lytle said. `It’s been said that the superintendent accomplishes anything, if you make decisions at all, you’re probably alienating or aggravating at least 5 percent of the community every week. You do that for 21-plus years — you do the math.`
Turning his attention to the Class of 2008, Lytle said many parents might be wondering how their children have grown so fast, but that the time had come for a new chapter in the lives of the students as they move forward and move on to new challenges and new endeavors.
`Many of you are wondering, as Kelly (McCall) noted, how they grew up so fast. From shin guards, ballet shoes, piano recitals, schools plays, book reports, prom dresses, and driving licenses have all become things of the past, reserved for scrapbooks stored in the cellar maintaining the memory,` Lytle said. `These wonderful young people whose first ride on the school bus seems only like yesterday, will be heading off.`
Lytle congratulated the graduating class to a roaring applause and wished them well on all of the endeavors they are heading off to complete.
The sentiment was clear in Albany on Friday night: Although the Eagles have left the nest, they are sure to make just as big an impression as they have in Bethlehem wherever they may land.“