SUNY College at Old Westbury President Calvin Butts III told Henry Viscardi School students at their June 26 commencement to focus on believing in themselves, others in their lives, and the methods they have used to get them to where they are today.
“Without a trained mind and an inspired heart, you’ll go nowhere,” Butts said.
The 47th commencement ceremony included 18 students from the Henry Viscardi School, which serves children with severe physical disabilities. The school offers a full academic program and a variety of therapies, assistive technology and medical supports to students.
“We are honored that Dr. Butts came and delivered such a powerful message to our graduates, their families and special guests,” said John Kemp, president and CEO of The Viscardi Center. “His overarching message was that nothing is impossible if you have faith.”
Many Viscardi graduates are attending higher education institutions this fall, including Hofstra University, Dowling College, The College of Westchester and local community colleges to pursue coursework in business, graphic design, education and liberal arts.
Butts encouraged several of the graduates to visit him after they enroll as freshmen at SUNY College at Old Westbury.
Other Viscardi graduates are pursuing vocational training and participating in community-based programs.
This year’s valedictorian, Ron Kort, plans to study business at Hofstra, where he and a fellow Viscardi graduate will also be living.
During his remarks, Kort spoke about the unique perspective the graduates had on the world and how it would be the simple things about the Viscardi School that he’d miss such as the building’s bricks, eating lunch together and touchdown passes in gym.
Salutatorian Jessica Poche said the Viscardi class of 2014 was known for its loudness, which he said was a “gift” enabling students to speak up for themselves.
Poch described her classmates as “determined, quirky and passionate” and encouraged them to stay motivated and to trust that dreams come true.
Diana DeVivio, Henry Viscardi School superintendent and principal, advised the departing seniors, “Remember not to shrink from a challenge but thrive in it, because your greatest accomplishments will come through those times when you have to work through obstacles and a struggle.
“Rather than resisting or resenting them, seek them out! They will help you grow and continue to learn and enable you to face everything that comes your way! Seek in your future the opportunity to enhance your self-knowledge and pride in your achievements,” DeVivio added.
During the commencement ceremony, Kemp presented the first Heartfelt Teacher Appreciation Grant to Joy Krebs, a physical education teacher at the school for 37 years. Krebs was recognized for her love of children, her creative curriculum thinking and her dedication to training future adapted physical education teachers.
The grant , which was made possible by Marianne Dolan Weber and Heartfelt Management, will be used to benefit the schools’ students.
