Dear Haldane Class of 2019,

Angela Fee

During my 13 years at Haldane, I made many memories and several incredible friends. More than anything, I will miss the people at Haldane, which is a tight-knit community of peers, teachers and parents.

Although small, Haldane had a lot to offer from academics to a multitude of clubs, sports and arts programs. The high school puts a strong emphasis on taking challenging academic courses. I took 10 advanced placement courses in high school, many of which inspired me to pursue a career in medical technology and pharmaceutical research and allowed me to develop important skills in problem-solving, analytical writing and public speaking.

One of the things that I found distinctive was the opportunity for one-on-one interaction with my teachers. Because Haldane has small classes, every teacher knew students by name and could consider and cater to individual learning styles. They were always there to support and challenge me. The 10th period at the end of the day allowed students time to confer with teachers, collaborate on assignments or run club meetings. I was also able to form strong bonds with fellow classmates who had differing interests and perspectives than my own.

Haldane allows every student to discover what he or she passionate about, whether it is music, sports, dance, art, leadership, community outreach or STEM [science, technology, engineering and math]. I am blessed to have met and been inspired by so many wonderful people over these past 13 years.

Angela Fee
Fee is the valedictorian of the Class of 2019. She will attend Northeastern University in Boston in the fall to study bioengineering.

Adam Silhavy

I will miss walking up the hill every morning with the mountains on my left before finding myself in the high school, seeing the smiles and hearing the greetings of classmates and teachers.

I can attest that the staff at Haldane has put so much care and effort into each pupil. They are one of the reasons I feel confident and excited to go off into the world. Most of this year’s graduates have been here for a good deal of our lives. I have friends I’ve known since kindergarten. We’ve shared incredible experiences and nurtured a competitiveness to strive toward our ambitions. I’ve was able to run cross-country and track, participate in drama productions like Romeo & Juliet and Cabaret, and visit New Orleans on our senior trip.

The culture of support and camaraderie at Haldane, along with the stunning natural beauty of the Hudson Valley, makes the school unique. I will be forever grateful.

Adam Silhavy
Silhavy is the salutatorian of the Class of 2019. He will attend Binghamton University in the fall.

Dr. Chuck Eaton

I sat in your shoes 50 years ago excited about the next phase of my life. I have been blessed to have good health, a loving family, and a tremendous career as a family doctor for the past 40 years and a research scientist for the past 30 years.

My advice to you is to never give up your dreams! Work hard but not so hard that you don’t appreciate the people and the natural beauty around you. For the success you may have in life, give thanks to those whose helped make you be successful.

For those less fortunate, give a helping hand. This kindness will come back to you in spades. Good luck!

Dr. Chuck Eaton
Eaton was the salutatorian of the Class of 1969. He is a professor of family medicine and epidemiology at Brown University and directs its Center for Primary Care and Prevention.

Haldane Class of 2019

Haldane commencement will take at the school at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 22.

More Highlands Graduates

Lakeland High School
Ryan Quinn, Garrison

The Masters School
Benjamin McGowan, Garrison

O’Neill High School

Thai Dodge, Garrison
Jack Kelly, Garrison
Hanna Scali, Garrison
Brenda Serrano, Garrison

Poughkeepsie Day School
Adrienne Galler, Cold Spring
Max Hadden, Cold Spring

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Articles attributed to "staff" are written by the editor or a senior editor. This is typically because they are brief items based on a single source, such as a press release, or there are multiple contributors, such as a collection of photos.