One class at VHS moves on, another moves up (2024)

Deborah M. Marko

One class at VHS moves on, another moves up (1)

VINELAND - Neelkanth Patel was namedVineland High School Class of 2017 valedictorian during the Moving Up ceremony held Thursday in the VHS South gym.

He will share the podium with Ashley Priore, who will give the salutatorian address during commencement set for 6 p.m. June 14 at Gittone Stadium.

The Moving Up ceremony “is a way to honor the academic achievements of our VHS seniors and a time to transition our junior class students to become the next senior class,” said assistant principal Suzette DeMarchi, filling in for VHS Principal Tom McCann.

“Students, today we are recognizing all of you,” DeMarchi said. “Your accomplishments are even more remarkable when one considers all of the sports, clubs and activities that you are involved in, and successful in, each and every day.”

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Honor students were presented the red stoles they will wear for graduation. The Class of 2017 includes 140 cum laude, 43 magna cum laude and 65 summa cum laude graduates.

“When they called my name, I felt my heart beating out of my chest,” Priore said, stepping up to accept her salutatorian medal.

“It was a rush, going up there and seeing all my peers stand up and give an ovation,” Patel said. “That was thrilling.”

Both students have grade point averages that exceed 4.5.

Patel, a member of Model Congress, Future Business Leaders of American, National Honor Society and the VHS Tennis Team, is headed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A fitting choice because as a junior, Patel won a medal the institute presents to the VHS student who excels at math and science.

The son of Yogesh and Hinitaben Patel, he plans to major in electrical engineeringwith the goal of one day working for Tesla. Look for him to attend a class reunion in an electric car he helped design.

Priore, the daughter of Gregory Priore and Victoria Rugel, hasn’t committed to a college yet.Her plan is to start her studies in a pre-med school and major in psychology.

At VHS, she was in the National Honor Society, World Language National Honor Society (Italian) while juggling a part-time job.

Rounding out the top 5 were Emily Caignon, Ian Simek and Cara Melchiorre.

Making the transfer of leadership official, senior class president Gracie Galan handedthe symbolic key to the school to her successor, Jose Mateo.

One class at VHS moves on, another moves up (2)

“Please take good care of it,” she said, before issuing a warning about the senior class president parking stall.

“That parking spot in front of the building is mine until June 14,” she said.

Galan encouraged the juniors to enjoy every moment of their senior year.

“You are getting ready for the most exciting year of high school;senior year passes quickly,” she said. “If you’re not careful, most of your memories will be of 10-second Snapchat stories."

Sure, take pictures, she said.

“You shouldn’t spend more time capturing the moment than you do living it,” she said.

Galan commendedthe success of the school’s football team, marching band and academic teams.

“Let’s continue to keep Vineland on the map,” she said. “We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.”

“In end, we rise as one,” she said.

Several juniors are already making their mark and were presented medals.

University of Rochester Bausch/Lomb Science Award (Highest achievement in the sciences) – Anuj Patel.
University of Rochester Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony Award (Commitment of social justice and human rights) – Priya Patel.
Society of Women Engineers Certificate – Kyra Cichy.
George Washington Medal (Highest grade point average in math and science) - Anuj Patel.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Medal (study of Mathematics and science) – Catherine Scanlon.
University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award – Jose Mateo.
Junior English Award (Highest GPA in English) – Natalia Smith.

Deborah M. Marko: (856) 563-5256; dmarko@gannettnj.com

Cum Laude:

George Alvarado

Vasilios Andritsopoulos

Valeria Angulo Rodriguez

Jordan Belvett

Sydnie Bennett

Vanessa Bernal Carbajal

Tori Brown

Hailey Bruno

Thomas Burgess

Blanca Camposeco Abarca

Michael Caraballo

Novia Carnegie

Zeltora Chaney

David Concordia

Taylor Cooke

Kayleigh Cooke

Antonio Cordova

Princess Cortes

Liana Cortes

Daquan Cosby

Bruno Costanzo

Zorjuli Crespo

Alyssa Cross

Mariah Cruz

Luizette Cubi

Elizabeth Cuevas

Genesis Cyr

David Dagar

Kira Dastolfo

Eliza DeJesus

Maridania Diaz

Alida Diaz Peralta

Kayla Durling

Deysi Espana Delarosa

Rachell Esteva

Cynthia Estevez

Marco Estrada Gonzales

Megan Fanelli

Samaija File

Kayla Garcia

Odalis Garcia Venancio