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The commencement was held at Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah.
Several speakers offered their own words of advice for the graduates.
Salutatorian Lauren Prisco compiled a top 10 list, similar to the ones that David Letterman ran on his television show, which involved people to thank for getting students to graduation. Prisco's list included every stakeholder in the Fox Lane community, including faculty, parents and administrators. Number one, however, was "yourself."
“Whether you're off to college, entering the workforce or joining our military, you have your own self discipline and ambition to thank," Prisco said.
Valedictorian Laura Quinn told her fellow graduates that growing up does not mean losing what has been enjoyed in childhood.
“We don’t have to leave our past behind to grow up," she said.
Serving as this year's student speaker was Stanley Figueroa, whose sister spoke at her own graduation last year. Figueroa urged graduates to pursue their dreams and not to worry about naysayers. He also stressed the importance of human life, which he noted is more valuable than gold and silver.
“Your class is just a really special class,” said Ted Keating, a Fox Lane English teacher who addressed the graduates. Keating's address, which was mainly a lighthearted overview of public speaking, was met with a standing ovation.
While the commencement served as a farewell ceremony for students, it also had the same purpose for outgoing school board members Susan Wollin and Eric Karle, whose terms end on June 30.
“Two leaders of our Board of Education are also graduating today,” said Fox Lane Principal Joel Adelberg.
Adelberg presented Wollin and Karle with a pair of honorary diplomas. He also noted the duration of their service; Wollin has been a board members for 12 years and is president, while Karle has served for a decade and is vice president.
Adelberg also noted that Wollin is herself a Fox Lane graduate and that her graduation was 40 years ago.
Adelberg also presided over what he intends to be a new tradition for commencements, introducing representatives from each of the Bedford Central School District's five elementary schools, along with Fox Lane Middle School.
Schools Superintendent Jere Hochman carried on with his own commencement tradition, which is to include copies of the Constitution to give to graduates, a document that he noted the importance of in his speech.
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