Time for finals: Wilson sends off its last class

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'Be proud. Be humanitarian. Be Wilson,' the former
superintendent said.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — "I didn't think I would live to see this day," said Guido Zarlengo, 76, of East Philadelphia Avenue, as he stood in the hot sun outside Stambaugh Auditorium.

Zarlengo, who said he grew up on the city's East Side, was among a crowd of several hundred who attended the last graduation ceremony Friday for Woodrow Wilson High School, which will be razed this summer to make way for a new middle school.

He was there to support his grandson, Michael Ciminelli, of the Class of 2007.

"I live for this kid. I helped raise him. I prayed for this day. Now, if I can live to see him graduate from college..." Zarlengo said.

"He's been there for me," Ciminelli said, returning some of the admiration and support offered by his grandfather.

Ciminelli, one of 118 graduates, said that, although it was "pretty good" to be a member of the final graduating class, he found the actual event a little tougher on him personally than the practice sessions for the ceremony.

It may have been the finality of the moment, he said.

Commencement speaker

Ben McGee, former superintendent of the city schools, was the commencement speaker, reminding graduates that they needed a support system to get where they are today and they should be a support system themselves as they move into the world.

Graduation is part of a journey, and it may be the first stop, but it can't be the last, McGee said.

"Learning is a lifelong process. Your education should not and cannot end here," he said, asking the students to, "Be proud. Be humanitarian. Be Wilson."

Valedictorian German Antony Natal, thanked his friends and teachers who inspired him and asked his classmates to, "Keep Wilson pride strong, even though the school is closing."

Joseph Myers, co-salutatorian, said there were 400 students in his freshman class.

"We are the few who survived," he said of the graduates, also praising those who helped and guided him along the way.

Myers said he hadn't wanted to go to Wilson as a freshman and applied to Chaney High School instead but wasn't accepted.

He's glad that happened now, he said, recounting the strong friendships he's made over the last four years.

He advised his classmates that, as they move through life, to, "Remember what you've already learned so it all makes sense."

Tarah Holness, co-salutatorian, told her classmates that she has already started to miss them.

"2007 will be remembered, but, will we remember each other?" she said.

Many will never see their classmates again, she said, adding, "Wilson is a family I will never forget. May our friendships last years and years."

It was announced that the senior class has secured a total of $249,940 in college scholarship aid thus far.

Saturday, June 9, 2007