Graduation: North Salem High School Class of 2023

North Salem High School’s class of 2023 held its commencement ceremonies at Caramoor Center for Music & the Arts in Katonah last week. The ceremony was attended by students and their families, school district administrators and Board of Education trustees.

Photo by Benjamin Allen, HudValley Photo

In his welcome remarks, North Salem Middle School/High School principal Vince DiGrandi thanked the senior class for their passion, enthusiasm, empathy and for the fun that they brought to school each day.

Photo by Benjamin Allen, HudValley Photo

During his address, which each year aims to provide the graduating class with inspiration and words of wisdom as they embark on adulthood, DiGrandi focused on two points. The first was inspired by the 1994 film, “Forrest Gump.” Midway through filming, lead actor Tom Hanks asked the film’s director, Robert Zemeckis, whether anybody would care about the film. Zemeckis answered that there were no guarantees. Despite the uncertainty, Hanks pressed on, committed to his craft. “At North Salem, we call this persistence,” DiGrandi said. “You control the effort, not the results…Remember that as you leave North Salem. You have to love doing it - whatever that ‘it’ is. You have to get to a place where doing the work is the win and everything else is extra.

The second notion DiGrandi shared came from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which provides insights into human happiness. The Study revealed the importance of quality relationships, purpose and health in driving higher levels of life satisfaction. “Remember the overlapping circles of health: physical, emotional/mental, social, and intellectual, and take care of them all,” DiGrandi advised.

Class valedictorian Kylie Staebler talked about her generation’s fear of failure. “Let the fear of failure be a motivator to work hard, but don’t let it paralyze you. Don’t let indecision become your identity,” she cautioned.

Photo by Benjamin Allen, HudValley Photo

Salutatorian Sophia Li spoke of the class’s resilience through COVID, which significantly impacted their high school experience beginning with their freshman year.

“Ours wasn’t the most traditional high school experience. Yet, like us, it was unique. Through it all, we built resilience. Through it all, we pushed on,” Li said.

Photo by Benjamin Allen, HudValley Photo

Li went on to talk about some of the things she learned during an internship at an elder care facility in New York City and how her interactions with older people helped her see her own generation in a new light. “We are setting the foundation for the people we hope to be. We are the next generation, and our collective actions and beliefs will define our lifetimes.”

Students from the North Salem High School Class of 2023 will attend the following colleges, universities and institutions.

To view a complete photo gallery from graduation, click here.