Last week Sachem North Valedictorian Fran Barilla said she would deliver a speech on graduation day filled with Sachem Pride. She wasn’t kidding.
For nearly 10 minutes, Barilla gave an elegant oration about what it means to be a member of the Sachem Family and what it’s like to have an over abundance of pride for her community and school during North’s commencement ceremony Saturday at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium.
“Sachem Pride is not something that can be taught,” said Barilla, who will attend Northeastern University. “There is no written formal definition of it and only the people who are part of this phenomenal district can understand and appreciate it. The quality and quantity of Sachem Pride comes from within. It comes from the heart. Each time we put pencil to paper during a test, stepped onto this field before a game, prayed before going in stage, or finished a piece of artwork, the pride of Sachem has always been present in our minds, our hearts and our attitudes.”
Sachem North Principal John Dolan echoed Barilla’s sentiments.
“It’s about the Sachem Family and the pride we have,” he said. “Get up in the morning and work hard every day. You are our future and our future is bright because of you. All we ask is that you follow your passion, you follow your heart and you choose a career where you get up in the morning and you’re excited to get out of bed and go to work.”
During the ceremony, Sachem paid tribute and honored Charles Baack, 96, a lifelong resident of the Sachem community and former Board of Education trustee (1965-1971).
“Standing here before you this morning just takes my breath away,” said Baack, who served in the U.S. Navy and attended a one-room school house as a boy on Main Street in Holbrook, N.Y.
Louis Coppola, Sachem’s Class President, gave a speech during graduation as well. Between the four honored guest student speakers at Sachem’s two graduations on Friday night at East and Saturday morning at North, everyone was once again reminded of how special this community is and the honor of being a member of the Sachem Family.
“I cannot tell you how proud I am and how grateful I am to be a part of this Sachem Family,” Sachem Superintendent James Nolan said. “People ask me all the time, what is so special about Sachem? It’s the people. To our graduates, go forward, continue to be humble, be good people, be hard working and continue to make us proud.”
PHOTOS: See more images from North’s commencement ceremony
VIDEO: Watch Fran Barilla’s Valedictorian speech
(Official release of Sachem Central School District)