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Ranney School Graduates the Class of 2015

Congratulations to our 79 seniors on their commencement - 24 of whom began attending Ranney in Lower School!
On May 29, 2015, members of Ranney School’s Class of 2015 walked the stage at Brookdale’s Robert J. Collins Arena to receive their diplomas. The 51st annual commencement ceremony celebrated the achievements of all 79 seniors who will be attending some of the nation’s top colleges and universities next fall. Twenty-four students in the class are Ranney “lifers,” meaning they have attended the school for 10 or more years. These students were highlighted in Ranney’s flagship magazine Columns.
 
Class Advisor Christine Cicero opened the ceremony with an invocation, stating, “As we leave to go our separate ways, let us cherish all the things that we have learned. Remind us to treasure all the friends that we have made and the teachers who have helped us find our way. Let us remember to thank our families for all that they have provided as we seek our fondest dreams…”
 
Student Council President and Ranney lifer Elizabeth Roberts also helped to welcome faculty, administration, board members, families and friends to the ceremony with opening remarks about Ranney School traditions and lifelong learning. She addressed the seniors, saying,  “…over the past four years, you began to form the identity that you carry with you today. You opened yourself to your surroundings. You allowed your teachers to bring not only knowledge into your lives but guidance. You embraced their qualities with the hope of one day embodying them. Their lessons inside the classroom gave clarity to not only the subject they were teaching but to your life itself…. As you prepare to leave your childhood behind, know that the choices you have made over the past 18 years have led you to this point, this milestone, this celebration of who you are.”
 
Class Salutatorian Hailey Maher, also the Yearbook Co-Editor, said in her address: “In these past four years, our class has witnessed some significant changes. We observed the passing of the torch from [Head of School] Dr. Sykoff to Dr. Griffith, saw the Upper School’s population increase by a third, moved from the Patriot Conference to the Shore Conference, and filled the bleachers with cheering fans at our first whiteout game…. But these changes at Ranney pale in comparison to the changes that have occurred within us…. We’ve grown from being participants to being leaders in sports, clubs and activities and we’ve learned what it means to lead by example.”
 
Caitlin Mullally, president of Ranney’s National Art Honor Society, created and presented the class shield; it is a tradition for a senior art student to create a shield to represent his or her class each year—the shields are displayed in the hallways of the Upper School. Caitlin described her shield as follows: “I was inspired by the diversity of our grade and our ability to join together for our common goal of Panther Pride. When I thought about our class and all our differences, I couldn’t help but think about color. There is an infinite range of colors…. This year’s senior shield brings together an incredible number of colors to show our Panther Pride.” The shield includes two sculpted panther portraits—a smaller panther in cool colors of blues and greens represents the beginning of the journey at Ranney School and a larger one leaves as a brighter and warmer grown panther. Read more about the Ranney shield tradition.
 
Senior Class Officers Kristen Guyler, Sabrina Park, Erik Bovino, and Caitlin Mullally presented Dr. Griffith with a check for $13,739 as the class gift to the school. The funds are designated to pave a path across campus from the Upper School to the Annex.

The class valedictorian, Rose Maisner, also commented on the diversity of the Class of 2015 in her farewell address: “One of the things I cherish about my class is that it contains scholars, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, activists and more than I could fill this oration with. Each classmate has chosen to enrich his or her life with different activities, providing a diverse multitude of perspectives. I am so thankful that I have been able to mature with you, learn from you and become a more perceptive person as a result of knowing you. I hope that you all continue to serve as both student and instructor in your endless pursuit of knowledge.”
 
Several graduation awards were presented during the ceremony, including:
 
  • Headmaster’s Cup: Elizabeth Roberts
  • Faculty Prize: Erik Bovino and Hailey Maher
  • Ann Kappel Citizenship and Service Award: Mike Kmetz
  • Ranney School Leadership Award: Kristen Guyler; Kristen serves as the president of the senior class and co-editor of the yearbook
  • Robert Paulus Leadership and Perseverance Award: Remi Rohl
  • Gershom Tomlinson Humanitarian Award: Samantha Chiarello – read about Samantha’s charity organization
  • Margaret M. Mahon Award: Coleen Ross
  • Lawrence S. Sykoff Award: George Timmins
 
Also celebrated and given an honorary diploma was Ranney’s international student from France, Madou Miglianico. Read about her experience here. Additional high honors were given to seniors and their Upper School peers during the spring convocation ceremony.
 
The commencement’s musical selections were provided by senior Jacquie Lee, who has had a unique Upper School experience after appearing on NBC’s “The Voice,” and senior George Timmins, a regular performer on the Ranney School stage and an All-Shore Chorus member. Jacquie sang the National Anthem at the beginning of the ceremony and George sang “May the Road Rise to Meet You,” as the benediction. In addition, the Ranney Upper School Orchestra and Jazz Band lent their musical talents to the event, including by playing the processional and recessional music, directed by Mr. John Propper and Dr. Dorothy Sobieski.
 
Presiding over graduation were Head of School Dr. John W. Griffith, Board of Trustees Chair Mr. Jamie Price, Head of Upper School Mr. Paul Zanowski, Assistant Head of Upper School Ms. Katie Gibson, and College Guidance Co-Directors Mr. Adam Materasso and Ms. Myra Simpson.
 
In his keynote address to the class, Dr. Griffith imparted advice based on the literary themes of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” as they encapsulate childhood, questioning and decision-making, and the magical world beyond the “rabbit hole”—in this case, college, and ultimately, life. And, in what is becoming a new tradition, Dr. Griffith presented an original poem, inspired by children’s verse, to the seniors. 
 
At the closing of the ceremony, president-elect of the Upper School Student Council Jerome Cohen thanked the seniors for their mentorship and guidance in reinvigorating school spirit on campus through new events such as the Friday Night Lights game and a new fight song for pep rallies. A junior, Jerome, said, “The Class of 2015 … will be looked at as the class that started it all. They gave my class the tools to build upon their foundation and now it is up to us to use the tools we have been given. We will follow our passions and improve the programs we are involved in. We will continue the traditions established by the seniors as well as make some of our own. And most importantly, we will pass these tools down to the classes below us.”
 
The graduating seniors participated in several traditional Ranney farewell events during their last days on campus. View photos of the seniors’ time with the Beginners’ Class of 2029 , their senior days of service helping to repair the nearby historical Crawford House, their farewell walk across campus  and their senior celebration dinner with faculty and family members. Graduation photos coming soon.
 
Congratulations Class of 2015!
 
 
 
 
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.