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John Jay Bids Farewell To Class Of 2016

KATONAH, N.Y. -- Members of John Jay High School's Class of 2016 made the switch from students to alumni on Tuesday before a packed crowd.

A group of John Jay High School graduates offer a round of applause at the 2016 commencement.

A group of John Jay High School graduates offer a round of applause at the 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
A John Jay High School 2016 graduate gets a hug following a performance by The Notables, which is an all-girls student a cappella group.

A John Jay High School 2016 graduate gets a hug following a performance by The Notables, which is an all-girls student a cappella group.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
A John Jay High School 2016 graduate performs with The Notables, a girls' a cappella group, as part of the commencement.

A John Jay High School 2016 graduate performs with The Notables, a girls' a cappella group, as part of the commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Members of John Jay High School's Class of 2016 graduated on Tuesday.

Members of John Jay High School's Class of 2016 graduated on Tuesday.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
A group of new John Jay High School graduates perform the national anthem at the 2016 commencement. The performance is by The Rolling Tones, an all-boys student a cappella group.

A group of new John Jay High School graduates perform the national anthem at the 2016 commencement. The performance is by The Rolling Tones, an all-boys student a cappella group.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Members of The Treblemakers, a co-ed student a cappella group, perform at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Members of The Treblemakers, a co-ed student a cappella group, perform at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
A new John Jay High School graduate receives a group hug following a performance by The Treblemakers, which is a co-ed student a cappella group. The performance was held as part of the 2016 commencement.

A new John Jay High School graduate receives a group hug following a performance by The Treblemakers, which is a co-ed student a cappella group. The performance was held as part of the 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
The parents of Brian Conway, a deceased classmate who would have graduated in 2016, receive a posthumous honor in their son's memory.

The parents of Brian Conway, a deceased classmate who would have graduated in 2016, receive a posthumous honor in their son's memory.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
The mother of Brian Conway, a deceased classmate who would have joined John Jay High School's Class of 2016, receives a hug at the commencement.

The mother of Brian Conway, a deceased classmate who would have joined John Jay High School's Class of 2016, receives a hug at the commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
The father of Brian Conway, a deceased classmate who would have joined John Jay High School's Class of 2016, receives a hug at the commencement.

The father of Brian Conway, a deceased classmate who would have joined John Jay High School's Class of 2016, receives a hug at the commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
John Jay High School Class of 2016 Co-Presidents Gabby Dowd and Kelly MacDonald present The Key of Knowledge to Class of 2017 Co-Presidents Carter Lombardi and Steven Palmesi.

John Jay High School Class of 2016 Co-Presidents Gabby Dowd and Kelly MacDonald present The Key of Knowledge to Class of 2017 Co-Presidents Carter Lombardi and Steven Palmesi.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Carter Lombardi and Steven Palmesi, co-presidents of John Jay High School's Class of 2017, look on after receiving the Key of Knowledge from their Class of 2016 counterparts.

Carter Lombardi and Steven Palmesi, co-presidents of John Jay High School's Class of 2017, look on after receiving the Key of Knowledge from their Class of 2016 counterparts.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Ryan Kramer, John Jay High School's 2016 salutatorian, delivers his address.

Ryan Kramer, John Jay High School's 2016 salutatorian, delivers his address.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Georgia Grzywacz, John Jay High School's 2016 valedictorian, delivers her address.

Georgia Grzywacz, John Jay High School's 2016 valedictorian, delivers her address.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Katonah-Lewisboro Superintendent Andrew Selesnick speaks at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Katonah-Lewisboro Superintendent Andrew Selesnick speaks at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Marjorie Schiff, Katonah-Lewisboro's school board president, speaks at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Marjorie Schiff, Katonah-Lewisboro's school board president, speaks at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
John Jay High School teacher Thomas Rizzotti delivers the keynote speech at the 2016 commencement.

John Jay High School teacher Thomas Rizzotti delivers the keynote speech at the 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Eleanor Fritsch delivers the senior class address at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Eleanor Fritsch delivers the senior class address at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Kim Piccolino and Gil Cass, John Jay High School's co-interim principals, deliver their remarks at the 2016 commencement.

Kim Piccolino and Gil Cass, John Jay High School's co-interim principals, deliver their remarks at the 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee William Rifkin prepares to deliver his son's diploma.

Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee William Rifkin prepares to deliver his son's diploma.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee William Rifkin hugs his son, Justin, after presenting him with his diploma at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee William Rifkin hugs his son, Justin, after presenting him with his diploma at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Mark Lipton prepares to deliver his daughter's diploma.

Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Mark Lipton prepares to deliver his daughter's diploma.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Mark Lipton hugs his daughter, Miranda, after presenting her with a diploma at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Mark Lipton hugs his daughter, Miranda, after presenting her with a diploma at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Janet Harckham prepares to deliver her daughter's diploma.

Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Janet Harckham prepares to deliver her daughter's diploma.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Janet Harckham hugs her daughter, Katherine, after presenting her with a diploma at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Former Katonah-Lewisboro school board Trustee Janet Harckham hugs her daughter, Katherine, after presenting her with a diploma at John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
John Jay High School 2016 graduates turn their tassels, symbolizing their transition from students to alumni.

John Jay High School 2016 graduates turn their tassels, symbolizing their transition from students to alumni.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
A packed crowd gathers for John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

A packed crowd gathers for John Jay High School's 2016 commencement.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie

The commencement, which is the high school's 60th, was held at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah.

Attendees were treated to musical performances from John Jay's three student a cappella groups: The Notables, which is an all-girls group; The Rolling Tones, which is an all-boys group; and The Treblemakers, which is a co-ed group.

Symbolizing the day's transition, Gabby Dowd and Kelly MacDonald, co-presidents for the graduated class, handed over an item called the Key of Knowledge to their Class of 2017 counterparts, Steven Palmesi and Carter Lombardi. The key handover is an annual tradition at John Jay.

The outgoing co-presidents also paid tribute to Brian Conway, a student who died in 2010. Conway, who was supposed to be part of the Class of 2016, was honored posthumously at the commencement, with his parents on hand.

This year's valedictory address was given by Georgia Grzywacz, while the salutatory address was delivered by Ryan Kramer. The senior class address was given by Eleanor Fritsch.

Giving this year's keynote speech was Thomas Rizzotti, a teacher at the school.

Katonah-Lewisboro school district officials also delivered remarks. The officials included Superintendent Andrew Selesnick, school board President Majorie Schiff, and high school Co-Interim Principals Gil Cass and Kim Piccolino. 

Steven Siciliano, who will become John Jay's new principal for the coming school year, was present at the commencement, Selesnick noted.

The commencement also offered a chance for current and former school board trustees who present diplomas to their graduating children. Current Trustee William Rifkin presented a diploma to his son, while former Trustees Mark Lipton and Janet Harckham gave diplomas to their daughters.

A photo gallery of the commencement is attached.

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