Newburgh Free Academy Graduates 602 Students

By Kintura Williams

NEWBURGH – Lines of cars and crowds of people overwhelmed the residential streets surrounding Newburgh Free Academy as City of Newburgh Police blocked off South Street for the 2017 graduation ceremony last Thursday.

This year saw 602 Newburgh Free Academy seniors cross the stage for their diplomas, many of whom will be headed to college in the fall and participating in special programs this summer.

“I know the students personally, be it from Heritage middle school or the fact that I greet them every morning on their way in. This student body has been amazing, we’re very fortunate to have amazing kids here and we’re really going to miss them,” said Newburgh Free Academy Principal Raul Rodriguez as students and staff lined up before the ceremony began.

Students and faculty crossed under the Academy Field sign—provided by the class of 2012—to begin the ceremony. For the first time, students did not wear the usual gold for girls and royal blue for boys, cap and gowns. This year saw a major change, as all students donned a navy blue cap and gown, with a gold stole.

Opening remarks were presented by Newburgh Free Academy Principal Raul Rodriguez, Principal Matteo Doddo and others, before Superintendent of Schools Dr. Roberto Padilla officiated the graduation.

Principal Doddo left the students with quotes from several influential people, offering them as words of guidance to take with them on their journey beyond high school.

“The only time you should ever look back, is to see how far you have come,” said Principal Doddo quoting Lisette Lothario.

Principal Rodriguez recalled the achievements of students in the 2017 class, both in the arts and theatre, Section IX titles in football, swimming, soccer etc., a state championship in track, and lastly, in the sciences as the CVRT (Concept Vehicle Racing Team) qualified when they visited Detroit, and seventh in the world when they went to London for the second year in a row.

Salutatorian Juan Peticco and Valedictorian Katherine Gravel both addressed the graduating class, but not before taking a selfie. Peticco is headed to Williams College to double major in Psychology and Biology, while Gravel is headed to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) where she will major in biological engineering.

Graduation spectators were mostly locals while others traveled from hours away to support their special graduate at the ceremony.

Some, like Newburgh residents Christine and Selvin Gabriel II, were overcome with a mix of emotions as they watched their fourth and final child graduate from Newburgh Free Academy and the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. The Gabriel’s children—Chrissel class of 2011, Tianna class of 2013, Selvin III class of 2014 and Taylor class of 2017—all were educated in Newburgh Schools.

“It’s sad to see my final child graduating, but I’m proud because I love the Newburgh schools. I love NFA, but the good thing is that there’s tons of their friends and our friends in the schools. So I know I can still go to the football games and basketball games and even graduation,” said Christine Gabriel. “My kids did wonderful. My son with his welding, and Taylor with lacrosse and GBTV (Goldback Television). They just loved to participate.”

Earlier in the school year the students and faculty suffered at the loss of a student, classmate and friend. Omani S. Free, 18, was killed in a shooting on Halloween. A senior, Free was due to graduate at the ceremony.

Her mother Rhonda Valentine-Free, walked academy field in her place and accepted her high school diploma as the ceremony stopped for a moment and crowds were brought to their feet to honor Valentine-Free and her daughter. Academy Field was filled with applause.

“We have at NFA ‘The Goldback Standard’ we have implemented with our athletes as well as with our student bodies,” said Principal Rodriguez, “that just because you’re from Newburgh and you hear about the negative stories, that isn’t the quality of student that we produce at NFA. We have students with tremendous opportunities and they take advantage of it.”

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