Friends, family, esteemed guests, Dr. McCann and administration, Dr. Gruccio and members of the Board of Education, teachers, graduates, my fellow citizens: Good afternoon. I am Jeff Martine, President of the United States of—I mean, the Class of 2016. Before I begin I would be remiss not to thank the leading figures of my high school career: my family for showering me with endless support and love, my teachers who have taught me many invaluable lessons, my fellow classmates for electing me to serve them, Gracie Galan, president of the class of 2017, for her brilliant leadership and enduring friendship, and of course Dr. McCann who has been a role model to me during my high school career and has taught us all what it means to be a leader. On behalf of the class of 2016 I’d like to thank all the teachers who have taught at Vineland High School and those in the honor guard today. The Class of 2016 is grateful for your dedication to higher learning and we are all fortunate to share our special day with you. These past four years have been marked by milestones, mistakes, and memories. Guided by our administration’s steady hand, each student has achieved tremendous feats and climbed over hurdles to be here today and that is something to be commended. Coming into high school as freshmen, many of us were eager to grasp with all our might the many experiences of high school. We joined teams, participated in clubs, and studied to earn that A. I remember my first day at VHS because of my Facebook post from that 5th of September; the post read: “School was absolutely chaotic and I loved it.” That post is still true today. Every day at Vineland has been chaotic; the students so filled with spirit and the halls bursting with laughter. This school spirit persisted into our sophomore and junior years and the adrenaline of our final year led us to where we are now. As a class, we became a family. We endured a common history and flourished under less than ideal circumstances. We stumbled through the maze that is the north building, braved the heat of the south building, suffered

through countless lectures, and we were both literally and metaphorically tested to our limits. Our class is without a doubt the best class in Vineland High School history. And I know other class presidents have stood up here and said the same thing but let me tell you why specifically our class is the best: we’ve established the position of Class Historian, we’ve won back to back Powderpuff games, we have an award winning academic team, and countless sports teams that have broken every record in the book. We have won every class competition since we were freshmen, and our legacy of being pioneers and history makers will allow for the world to never forget that the class of 2016 is the class that wins! We are the class of game changers! We have taken risks and reaped the rewards. In the words of President John F. Kennedy, “Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” While we’ve sometimes failed miserably, it is an understatement to say that we have achieved greatly. For some in our class, the daily trip to school was a struggle because they live in a single parent household, or buying lunch was a struggle because they are the sole provider in the family, or earning high grades because of a learning disability was a struggle, but to that I say: here we are. Students of Vineland High School have always been underestimated, but to that I say: here we are. We have been told “you will not succeed at Vineland High School,” but to that I say: here we are. When we get knocked down, the Class of 2016 picks itself up, dusts itself off and we remind everybody: here we are! We’ve made it! Regardless of anything anybody may say about Vineland High School, it is our home and it is the place that has granted formative opportunities to those without a clear direction, and we all owe a debt of gratitude. Constructed of brick and mortar, the building is only a representation of our school; the real foundation isn’t constructed of concrete, but of the support from our community. Together, we have done the impossible and today we affirm our accomplishments and our goals

to make this world a better place. Numbered among us today are future doctors, nurses, teachers, peacemakers, and maybe a president or two, and each one of us owes our future accomplishments to the two buildings on E. Chestnut Avenue. From the hallways of Vineland High School to our new paths in the real world we will always have a place to call home. It is important to always remember where we come from and to cherish our history. If we neglect our roots, we will not be able to see the fruits of the future in front of us. Nothing stands in our way now. We have a clear shot at shaping the world around us, so why should we sit around and watch as the decisions of dignitaries and politicians create our future? The only way of ensuring our legacy is by participating in the process. Cast your vote, lobby for your future. Democrat or Republican, poor or wealthy, black or white, it doesn’t matter. We are all citizens of this world and we all have a voice. If Vineland High School has taught me anything, it has taught me to use my voice and to forge my own path. Today, I am sharing this lesson with my classmates and fellow graduates. People may be quick to judge you because of the misrepresentations of our school. Embrace that and be proud anyway. Be proud of how much you’ve grown at VHS. Be proud of who you are and all of your achievements. But most importantly, be proud of whom you wish to become because that is the true measure of the Class of 2016. Thank you for the milestones, the mistakes, and the memories; I won’t soon forget them. Class of 2016, our time is now and it’s up to you to put Vineland High School on the map and make your fellow classmates proud. In the words of a wise man and great friend, “On that note, have a great day!” God bless you and may God bless Vineland High School!