High School Graduates Honor and Excitement: A Look at the New Destinations
Graduating High School Students Pursue Diverse Paths
A number of recent high school graduates from the Syracuse area are embarking on new journeys as they begin their college careers or join the workforce. Among them are Mariah Stewart, daughter of Timothy Stewart, facilities and security manager for the Libraries, who graduated from Chittenango High School.
Colin Smyth, a family member of Timothy Stewart, also graduated from Chittenango High School. Meanwhile, Emilia Cappers, daughter of Dafni Kiritsis, graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School.
Other graduates include Riley McFall, daughter of Andrew McFall (an electrician in Facilities Services), who graduated from John C. Birdlebough High School in Phoenix. Jerry Mosqueda III, son of Angela Mosqueda (medical assistant at the Barnes Center at The Arch), graduated from Red Creek High School.
In addition, Gretchen Conrad, daughter of Rob Conrad, graduated from Canastota High School. Nevaeh Hall, daughter of Kaleya Scott, also graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School. Nolan Wall, son of Kevin Wall (assistant registrar for transfer articulation), and Collin Powers, son of Jim Powers (assistant director of information technology at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families), graduated from East Syracuse Minoa High School.
Mary McCay, daughter of Deanna McCay, graduated from Cazenovia High School. Cameron Besaw, son of Toni Besaw, also graduated from John C. Birdlebough High School in Phoenix.
As for their future plans, Payton Abbott, daughter of Carrie Abbott, graduated from the Syracuse City School District's Corcoran High School and will attend SUNY Geneseo. Nevaeh Hall will major in neuroscience in the College of Arts and Sciences. Riley McFall will major in biology in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Olena Conrad will be undecided in the College of Arts and Sciences. Collin Powers will major in esports communication and management in the Falk College of Sport and Newhouse School. Gretchen Conrad will major in fine arts at Alfred University. Emilia Cappers will attend Syracuse University's College of Visual and Performing Arts, majoring in illustration.
Some of the graduates have chosen to join the military. Mariah Stewart has joined the U.S. Army and is a warrant officer in flight training. Colin Smyth has joined the U.S. Army and is a prime power production specialist.
Cameron Besaw will be entering the U.S. Navy.
The search results do not provide specific details about the academic and career plans of the recent high school graduates honoured at a particular institution. However, they offer relevant contextual information about trends and policies related to high school graduation requirements and career planning that may influence graduates' plans.
In New Mexico, new graduation requirements starting with the incoming freshmen (Class of 2029) emphasize earning a total of 24 credits with a balance of core subjects and electives tailored by individual school districts, providing students flexibility to choose courses relevant to their future goals[1].
Iowa requires high school students to have an Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) beginning in grade 8, emphasizing career-related experiences that connect students’ interests with labor market needs, enhancing readiness for higher education or the workforce[4].
Some states, such as Kentucky, offer programs that allow accelerated or early graduation with unique certificate and scholarship opportunities, potentially reflecting students’ career readiness and academic acceleration[5].
Broader initiatives like New York State’s "Portrait of a Graduate" framework seek to cultivate graduates who are not only academically proficient but also equipped with the life skills needed to thrive beyond school, indicating a holistic approach to graduate readiness that shapes students’ academic and career trajectories[3].
While specific individual plans of the honoured graduates are not detailed, it is likely that these graduates have academic and career plans influenced by such frameworks—focused on meeting state graduation requirements, leveraging career and technical education, and preparing for continued education or direct workforce entry. For precise plans of a given cohort at a named institution, direct institutional communications or announcements would be necessary as this information is not covered in the search results.
Olivia Ruddy, daughter of Sara Ruddy (administrative assistant at the Syracuse Center of Excellence), graduated from Cazenovia High School. She will major in elementary education at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Colin Smyth, family of Timothy Stewart, facilities and security manager for the Libraries, graduated from Chittenango High School.
In conclusion, these recent high school graduates are pursuing diverse paths, from academia to the military, showcasing the variety of opportunities available to them. As they embark on their new journeys, they are well-prepared to meet the challenges ahead, thanks to their hard work and the guidance they have received.
- The gradute, Colin Smyth, who is a family member of Timothy Stewart and a son of Olivia Ruddy, is aiming to major in a subject related to his personal growth and education-and-self-development, as he plans to attend a university to pursue a major in a field.
- As they venture on their new paths, some of the graduates, like Colin Smyth and Olivia Ruddy, are looking forward to further learning and personal-growth opportunities through their chosen fields of study.
