By Karyssa D’Agostino
RUMSON – On Friday, June 14, the Rumson Country Day School held its annual 8th grade graduation ceremony for the Class of 2019. This is a yearly tradition for the 93-year-old school.
The 2019 graduating class had 38 students, nine of whom received awards at the ceremony. The awards ranged from exemplary service to the student who obtained the highest level of scholarship in the Upper School.
Grace Gibson was awarded the Theodore K. Reiss Memorial Award for having the spirit of good sportsmanship in all phases of academic life.
The Trustees Prize was awarded to Aidan MacManus for being the student with the most outstanding qualities of scholarship, sportsmanship, leadership and character.
Paige Cecil and Bryce Devlin received the Athletic Department Award for their outstanding athletic qualities. Angie Getze and Julian Magherini exemplified outstanding service to RCDS, earning them the Blake Award. Mallory Aronne was awarded the Swede Joseph Chevalier Memorial Award for her kindness and humility toward her classmates, her commitment to growth and originality and her determination to achieving her goals.
Chloe Constantinopoulos and Julian Magherini were honored for achieving the highest and second highest level of scholarship in the Upper School.
The soon-to-be high school freshman are all headed in different directions for their secondary schooling. The largest number of students will attend Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and the other students will be attending various public schools, private schools and specialty programs. Despite their different paths the 38 students will be bound by their memories from the Rumson Country Day School.
“This is a bittersweet day,” said student Adele Bender, the commencement speaker. “But we will march with the leadership and independence we have learned from our Rumson school, our heads held high and our eyes sparkling.”
The graduates received their diplomas from Jayne Geiger, head of school and board of trustees president John Devlin.
