Superintendent: Always Remember Where You Came From

Parents, honored guests, distinguished faculty, Board of Education members, President Dr. Steve Paget, and Principal Bingert, it is my honor and distinct pleasure to present the Hillsborough High School Graduating Class of 2011. 

I have had the good fortune of working as your superintendent for only six short months.  I have learned a great deal about this school system and the quality of the faculty, staff, and students during this period of time.

The one thing that I have learned during my first few weeks here is that there is an abiding appreciation and affection for the Hillsborough Township Public Schools.  Hillsborough School Pride runs deep.  There is a long history of community members who went to school here, raised their family here, and would never move from this great community.

By a show of hands, how many of our graduates have been here since kindergarten.  That’s 13 years that our teachers have nurtured you, taught you, inspired you, guided you, corrected you, laughed with you, cried with you, learned with you, and most importantly believed in you.

Your teachers were there when you needed them, supporting you as you navigated 13 years of schooling.  Your teachers played an important role in the helping you to become the young adults you are today.  For that reason, let’s show our appreciation to your teachers, for today we share your family’s pride.

Today, marks an important milestone in your lives.  It is a milestone that marks the passage from childhood to adulthood.  It is also a milestone in your parent’s lives, as well: As parents it’s hard to think of ourselves as moms and dads of high school graduates.  Some of us thought this day might never come! Some of us thought this day came too fast.  And others thought this day could not come fast enough!  

But all of us are very proud of your accomplishments.  Today, as parents we reflect and think of the first steps you took almost 14 years ago when you climbed upon that bus to begin your first day of kindergarten.  It doesn’t seem that long ago.  And now that you take your last steps as a Hillsborough student, I ask that you step proudly, knowing that you are well prepared to follow your dreams. 

You are well prepared to begin this next chapter in life’s journey.  You are well prepared to participate as an active member of a free and democratic society in the best county in the world.  You are well prepared to be you and find the joy in life that you so richly deserve. 

The Class of 2011 has distinguished itself in many ways.  I’d like to take a moment and highlight just a few of your many accomplishments.  Although this list is far from exhaustive, it illustrates the quality of the students present today.

• 93% of the Class of 2011 will pursue higher education at colleges and universities throughout the country, including, Harvard, Bucknell, Rutgers, Cornell, Duke, Fordham, University of Michigan, New Jersey Institute of Technology, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, Seton Hall, Temple, and Villanova...just to name a few
• The Class of 2011 performed on state assessments in the top quartile of all districts in the State of New Jersey.  New Jersey students perform in the top 10% in the entire county.  Performing in the top quartile in the state that performs in the top 10% of our nation is truly impressive.
• The Hillsborough Robotics Club, The RoboRaiders, won the Motorola Quality in Design Award and was recognized by professional engineers as the best overall program in the entire world for their strategy and design of this year’s robot.  Team #75 is the longest continually running robotics program in New Jersey. 
• The high school musical, Phantom of the Opera, was recognized by the Rising Star awards as one of the six top high school musical productions in the State
• The Debate Team won the Best Small Delegation at the Rutgers Model Congress and team members won over 20 individual awards
• Our Marching Band was the Group 5 Open Northern States Champions
• Our Wind Ensemble was one of only 6 groups in the entire tri-state area to perform at the Rutgers Wind Band Festival and the state Gala concert at Kean University
• The Winter Guard were silver medalists at the Winter Guard Invitational Pittsburgh Regional and M.A.I.N. Championships
• Our Girls Cross Country Team is # 1 in the State of New Jersey for the second year in a row
• Our Girls Gymnastics Squad is the Central Jersey Group 4 State Champions
• Girls Lacrosse is ranked 64th in the county
• Our Softball Team is the Somerset County Champions
• And the Boys Volleyball team is ranked 44th in the county

Whether it is academics, athletics, co-curricular, or performance arts the quality of our students’ accomplishments is nothing short of outstanding.

Graduates, as you take your final footsteps as students of Hillsborough High School always remember where you came from and those who poured their hearts and souls into you.

Remember to thank your teachers, parents, and loved ones who walked beside you during this chapter of your life, those who watched your little feed hop on that school bus as you entered kindergarten many years ago and who now watch bigger feet as they begin to walk an exciting new path towards a future filled with promise, hope, and joy.

 Congratulations to Class of 2011!