Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Pelham Union Free School District. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community

With the tossing of caps, the PMHS Class of 2023 marked the end of its time in high school and set its sights on the next chapter. The annual commencement ceremony, which was held in the Pelham Middle School gym due to inclement weather, saw 211 seniors receive diplomas at a moving ceremony that included performances by the PMHS Band led by Andrew Van Bochove and a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem sung by Isabella Rosado.

A color guard was presented by American Legion Pelham Post No. 50 and speeches were given by PMHS Seniors Victor Chang, Leah Sherbansky, Class of 2023 President Thomas Cole, PMHS Principal Mark Berkowitz and Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools.

The W.W. Fairclough Prize was awarded by PTA Council President Annemarie Garcia to the three top academic students: Emma Van Praagh, Ava Knickerbocker and Jonah Sherbansky. Memorial Tablets were presented to Jonah Sherbansky and Emma Van Praagh by Dr. Cheryl Champ.

In addition to recounting many of the accolades achieved by the Class of 2023, Principal Berkowitz shared an anecdote about a woman, who at 93 years old, completed an 8-year journey to visit every U.S. National Park with her grandson.

“We hope you’ll call upon the wisdom generated through your journey here at Pelham Memorial High School to keep hanging on; to keep growing,” Mr. Berkowitz said. “And perhaps most relevant for us today is the reminder of how important it was for this grandson and grandmother to embark on their adventure together. Their journey guides us all to remember: this moment is happening, right now. And the time we spend with our loved ones, family and friends, teachers, coaches and mentors, are the moments of connection that will nurture and sustain us for the rest of our lives. Class of 2023, we are so proud of you.”

In his speech titled, “Do It For Yourself,” Victor Chang referenced the film “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” as he spoke about the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivators.

“Too much of our teenage lives have been governed by extrinsic motivators,” Chang said. “But it doesn’t have to be that way now. Because for the first time in our lives, we’ll be truly independent. We’ll have the agency to determine for ourselves what we want to do with our lives… Remember that each of us, by virtue of being human, has intrinsic value. You have so many intangible qualities that can’t be put on a resumé or a LinkedIn bio. Inevitably, many of us will stumble while pursuing our passions, but that doesn’t make you any less human. In fact, it makes you that much more impressive because you refused to let your dreams be snatched away.”

Leah Sherbansky, in her speech called “Dressing for Success, spoke about how every night throughout high school she would pick out her clothes for the next day. This small step, she explained, gave her a sense of accomplishment and allowed her to focus on other important things.

“Perhaps our thousand-mile journey will not be defined by the outfits we wear, but the people we meet and the stumbles we take,” Sherbansky said. “Each stumble will advance our journey far beyond the four years at Pelham Memorial High School. Until then though, let us start with a small step each day. As we embark on our journey beyond these halls, let us remember that it is through the seemingly small steps that we develop the resilience and confidence to conquer the grandest challenges that lie ahead.”

PMHS Class of 2023 President Thomas Cole recounted the many successes that made his classmates champions, including being National Merit Finalists, hockey champions, theater award nominees, accomplishments in science research and nationally recognized journalists. In his remarks, Cole reflected on the sense of community the graduates had formed.

“Recently, like most of my peers, I’ve been reflecting on my time in high school. I look back at the experiences I’ve been a part of, the lessons I’ve learned, and the relationships I’ve formed,” Cole said. “From the Socratic discussions in English, the first football game of the season, the labs in biology, silly walk practice, and so much more, all of the memories that immediately come to mind are centered around and can be traced back to one thing: community. The pride that is evoked in all of your hearts at the mention of all of the awards and achievements of our class doesn’t necessarily come from your role in the specific achievement. It is derived from  your place in this special community and the collective pride I think we all feel from it.”

Dr. Champ, reflected on a quote from NBA Analyst Jalen Rose, who said “People come into your life for four reasons: to add, subtract, multiply or divide. You have to choose wisely.” She challenged students who consider the people in their lives closely, to strive to build unity, and to consider what impact they were having on the lives of others.

“Now that you are at the final milestone of your high school career, much about life will change,” Dr. Champ said. “This change can be exciting yet frightening at the same time. As you move into the next weeks, months and years, you are going to meet a lot of new people, form new relationships and be exposed to people from all different backgrounds and experiences.

“As you do, I encourage you to reflect upon this principle about people who add, subtract, multiply and divide. Ask yourself tough questions about not only who in your life falls into those categories and what you need to do about that, but also reflect on who you are to others and what you bring into their lives, and what else you can do about that as well. Every day provides a new opportunity for a fresh start.”