WVMS celebrates 8th grade grads during Moving Up Ceremony

On Wednesday morning, Warwick Valley Middle School gathered for its annual 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony, marking a major milestone for the middle school's Class of `26 as they prepare to begin their high school journey!

The event began with WVMS Principal Jared Yapkowitz welcoming attendees and introducing this year’s student emcee, Sileny Baez. Mr. Yapkowitz praised Sileny for her leadership, integrity, and the positive example she sets for her classmates.

“Sileny has demonstrated remarkable growth throughout her middle school years and consistently exemplifies the qualities outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate,” Mr. Yapkowitz said. “She has earned the admiration and respect of both her peers and her teachers, and it is our honor to have selected her as this year’s student emcee.”

Sileny introduced herself to the audience and invited everyone to rise for the national anthem, beautifully performed by selected members of the 8th-grade chorus. Sileny then welcomed WVMS Associate Principal Andrew Rao to the podium. Mr. Rao read through a list of awards previously presented to outstanding members of the graduating class. The awards and their recipients are included in the event program, which can be viewed and downloaded using the link in this story.

Sileny then brought Mr. Yapkowitz back to the podium to present the Principal’s Award. This year’s recipient, Madison Candia, was recognized for achieving the highest cumulative GPA over four years and for her academic excellence and perseverance.

“Madison’s curiosity, kindness, and positive outlook have made a lasting impact on our school community,” Mr. Yapkowitz said. “Her [academic] achievements are certainly impressive, but it is her character, leadership, and willingness to embrace every adventure that make her so deserving of this honor.”

In her remarks, Madison thanked the parents, siblings, teachers, and administrators who supported her and her classmates during their time at middle school. Then, addressing her fellow grads, she assured them of something: They’re going to fail.  

“Failure is inevitable. And you’re going to feel dumb. And you’re going to feel like a silly goose when you fail, but you’re going to fail,” she assured them. Then, immediately reassured them: “But failure isn’t a sign to give up; it’s a sign that your goal just isn't finished yet. So keep going!”

She also encouraged her peers to embrace challenges, support one another, and that while mindset is important, taking action is the key.

“I can say, ‘Oh, I’m gonna have a million dollars.’ … But if I don’t do anything and just wait for the million dollars to fall from the sky, nothing’s ever really gonna happen,” she said. "You have one life; you might as well live it!”

The ceremony continued as Lauren Ogden, 8th-grade guidance counselor, read the names of the graduates, who crossed the stage to spirited applause, sharing handshakes, hugs, and fist bumps with a receiving line of their teachers and administrators.

Once the certificates had been handed out, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach addressed the class, encouraging them to take full advantage of the many opportunities awaiting them at Warwick Valley High School. Using the Knicks’ recent historic championship (a recent point of enthusiastically shared interest among students and staff alike) as an example of how it can take time and multiple efforts to achieve great things. He emphasized the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and setting ambitious goals as the students enter the next phase of their academic journey. Dr. Leach highlighted the high school’s robust offerings—including nearly 100 college credits and a wide range of clubs and electives—urging students to explore their interests and passions.

“There are a lot of opportunities to explore your passions, areas that you’re interested in, that excite you,” Dr. Leach said. “I encourage you to take advantage of that. And as you get a little bit older, you're going to have more and more autonomy and more and more choice. So now is the time to really embrace that; to set some goals you want to achieve and go after them.”

Dr. Leach closed his address by celebrating the unique spirit of the now Class of 2030.

“On behalf of the district, I want to say we are extremely proud of you. This is an extraordinary class. It's a class of high character. It's a class that really does have a lot of fun together,” Dr. Leach said. “As the future Class of 2030, you're going to have many milestones to celebrate, and I'm looking forward to being here to celebrate with you. Thank you, and congratulations!”

Mr. Yapkowitz wrapped up the ceremony by celebrating the middle school Class of 2026's resilience, growth, and accomplishments. He also drew inspiration from the Knicks’ recent championship—an achievement, he pointed out, that has been decades in the making—to highlight the values of patience and perseverance.

“Sometimes that’s what great accomplishments take. It can be years of hard work,” Mr. Yapkowitz said. “And as I look out at this class, I see many of those qualities. You are leaving the middle school as thoughtful young people equipped with knowledge, strong friendships, valuable experiences, and the skills necessary to take on the opportunities and challenges that await you in high school.”

He expressed gratitude to the families, teachers, and staff who supported and guided the students, and encouraged the graduates to embrace new beginnings, set ambitious goals, and take action to make their dreams a reality.

“Don’t let your dreams be dreams; make them reality,” he said. “Set ambitious goals. Believe in what you're capable of accomplishing. But most importantly, take action! Congratulations, Class of 2026. Your future is bright, and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish. Today we celebrate you!”

Use this link to download the WVMS 2026 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony event program.

WVMS Class of 2026

• Christopher Alonso
• Evelyn Altano
• Ariel Altieri
• Rylan Alvarez
• Benton Andersen
• Sebastian Andrici
• Oliver Annucci
• Tristan Ayala
• Quintin Baer
• Emma Baez
• Sileny Baez
• Sarah Bailey
• Alyssa Balsamo
• Mya Barbour
• Nicholas Barden
• Carter Bartsch
• Kurt Becker
• Wyatt Beehner
• Melanie Arizpe Benitez
• Geraldine Benitez-Neri
• Colin Bess
• Emily Bielak
• Blake Bingham
• Peter Blandino
• Olivia Boller
• Kodey Bossio
• Mason Bowman
• Peter Boyd
• Grayson Breen
• Mya Britton
• Jocelyn Brock
• Sage Brookins
• Connor Brown
• Jackson Brown
• Jessica Buckley
• George Bukovsky
• Kaiden Bustamante
• Luke Calabro
• Antonio Campos
• Madison Candia
• Oscar Carew
• Ava Carter
• Madeline Cassidy
• Christopher Chiosie
• Faith Cimino
• Luke Cirillo
• Lucy Clark
• Lylah Colon
• Bailey Connolly
• Molly Corcoran
• Aubrey Cordero
• Isabella Cordova
• Ella Cornelius
• Kaitlyn Cosco
• Angelica Costanza
• Anja Coyle
• Teagan Cruz
• Nathaniel Cullen
• Amber Cummings
• Teagan Currid
• Chance Daly
• Ava Darcey
• Sebastian Dawson
• Carlos Deleon
• Matthew Della Vecchia
• Nicholas DeSantis
• Ryan Devine
• Madison Dewitt
• Sabrina Dinu
• Luke Dispenza
• Siena Donahue
• Bennett Dwyer
• Dylan Dwyer
• Zoe Edwards
• Lia Elias
• Omar Elkashef
• Mark Ellsworth II
• Avery Eschmann
• Gianna Fasolino
• Elizabeth Fenfert
• Jonathan Ferretti
• Jack Fiore
• Cayden Flores
• Gavin Fong
• Zoe Fong
• Brody Foust
• Mason Fury
• Mia Gelman
• Ethan Ghonz
• Jason Glemaud
• Landon Goldenberg
• Sarah Goldsmith-Meyer
• Desmond Goldstein
• Ariana Gonzalez
• Kartel Gordon
• Olivia Grayson
• Aleena Grossmann
• Domenica Guerrero Pucachaqui
• Carlos Habrahamshon
• Sean Haftek
• Hannah Hall
• Dominick Hartman
• Madison Hatton
• Ella Heller
• Declan Hennessey-Coyle
• Anabelle Hernandez
• Rex Heymer
• Olivia Howard
• Noa Hudspeth
• Addison Hurd
• Alexander N. Smith III
• Lexie Introini
• Jayden Jackson
• Catherine Jacob
• Sienna Jarer
• Dylan Jones
• Thomas Joy
• Charlie Jurgens
• Richard Keglovitz
• Tristan Klett
• Kyla Klos
• Bethany Kooreman
• Zoe Koziola
• Jayson Kuklis
• Baylee LaConti
• Reilly Lajara
• Grace Lamattina
• Lucas LaPenna
• Andrew Laperuta
• Adrien Lappin
• Ben Larkin
• Keri Leahey
• Aubrey Legagneur
• Conor Lobosco
• Benjamin Loibl
• Jeremy Lopez Blanco
• Jack Lorello
• Abigail Luciano
• Alessandra Lundgren
• Kaylee Malgieri
• Ayva Manzano
• Sherlyn Marquez
• Anabella Martinez
• Gia Martinez
• Jaedon Martinez
• Xylia Martinez
• Charlotte Masker
• Jayden Maynard
• Zachary McCabe
• Liam McCaskey
• Cooper McGill
• Lyric McGovern
• Pamela McKay
• Angelina McKnight
• William McMichael V
• Jason McNamara
• Amaziah Mela
• Ulysses Michelson
• James Mikos
• Alana Miller
• Lila Monti
• Grace Morgan
• Dax Morrison
• Lainey Murphy
• Joseph Murtagh
• Aine Natale
• Sheariyar Naz
• Anastasia Nguyen
• Emileo Nicosia
• Adam Novak
• Melania Nunez
• Daniel O'Shea
• Matthew Osorio Ayala
• Aaron Padilla
• Tristan Page
• Timothy Pakenham
• Max Paltrowitz
• Leo Pang
• Nia Pearson
• Jacob Pena
• Luca Perrelli
• Trystan Pierre
• Keira Pink
• Evie Pirovitz
• Tory Pizanie
• Alex Podolec
• Maxim Polakoff
• Michael Portka
• Atticus Pouliot
• Emerson Pouliot
• Nola Grace Pouliot
• Dakarai Powell
• Michael Praino
• Adriana Prestigiacomo
• Ryan Priber
• Giovanna Prinzo
• Matthew Puente
• Marc Rainey
• Sebastian Ramirez
• Simon Samuel Ramos
• Sophia Raposo Marques
• Ethan Reilly
• Nicholas Ricco
• Atticus Ridolfo
• Lucianna Rivera
• Deborah Robles
• Khloe Rodriguez
• Alisson Rodriguez Vasquez
• Megan Roe
• Santino Roman
• Liam Romero
• Cannon Rother
• Andi Rukiqi
• Chace Ryan
• Finian Ryle
• Riley Salas
• Kaiden Sanchez
• Tristan Sanchez
• Eva Sandfort
• Mia Santiago Tejeda
• Leah ScaloCharles Schweiger
• Cole Schwenker
• Samantha Seda
• Evalie Seid
• Lila Mae Semioli
• Finnegan Sezack
• Liam Shaw
• Arden Shera
• Akeem Shoneye
• Evangelene Siebert
• Tyler Sobotor
• Amelia Soehngen
• Olivia Soehngen
• Mya Spinelli
• Alexander N. Smith III
• Elle Srednicki
• Emma Stazzone
• William Stefancik
• Lola Filippa Stern-Crespo
• Alexander N. Smith III
• Brooke Stewart
• Piper Stewen
• Cade Strickland VIII
• Emma Stroosnyder
• Tyler Tangredi
• Landon Tarazona
• Alexis Taylor
• Theodore Thornell
• Jack Todd
• Arianna Torres
• Zoey Torres
• Marley Tosh
• Alan Trinidad Serapio
• Meadow Tveter
• Briese Vargas
• Michael Vasco
• Thomas Vega
• Brielle Vivino
• Hunter Watts
• Katherine Welch
• Kurt Welsch
• Mikayla Wensley
• Olivia Wenzel
• Elizabeth Westcott
• Aila White
• Leland White
• Adelaide Whittaker
• Eloni Wilson
• Layla Wright
• Liam Yee
• Elijah Young
• Nia Young
• Robert Young
• Julien Ziegler
• Logan Ziegler
• Alexander Zimmerman

8th Grade Graduation Gallery