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 ALBANY, N.Y. (June
28, 2009) -- Find what you love in life.
That was the message Albany High School valedictorian Rachel Barnas (pictured
at right) left with her classmates June 28 as about 430 members of
the Class of 2009 celebrated their graduation at the University of
Albany’s SEFCU Arena.
“Finding what you love may
mean discovering what people are dear to you, what ideas are important
or what work makes you fulfilled,” she said. “Whatever it means to you,
though, it’s probably an ongoing process.
“Just like high school, the
search may sometimes be hard, and yet other times be absolutely the
greatest. But no matter what happens as you head out into the world, I
hope that you will keep your eyes focused on this goal. After all, it is
this goal – finding your values and finding your place – that will
ultimately be at the heart of
your story.”
Click here to read the full text of Rachel's valedictory.
You also can check out more photos
 of the day
in
the Albany High graduation photo gallery.
Alain Kaloyeros,
Ph.D., senior vice president and chief executive officer at the
University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering,
delivered the commencement address. He reminded the graduates how
quickly technology is changing the world, and how critical it will be
for them to consider their education a life-long
process rather than a finite pursuit.
Dr. Kaloyeros
was instrumental in creating the groundbreaking NanoHigh partnership in
2007 that made Albany High the first American public high school to
offer on-campus instruction in the nanosciences. The NanoHigh program
completed its second year in 2008-09 with the first graduates of the
program’s advanced-level course.
Members of the
Class of 2009 will attend more than 115 colleges and universities in the
fall. Rachel will attend Yale University. Salutatorian Hillary Worden
will attend the University of Washington.
 Speaking to her classmates
during the valedictory,
Rachel said the rich diversity of Albany High’s
student body will be a resource that will serve the graduates well no
matter what directions they choose in life.
“It is absolutely absurd to
try to speak for each and every one of you,” she said. “But that’s the
beauty of our school and of the Class of 2009. Every one of us comes
from different backgrounds and holds different values dear. We all have
to deal with different challenges, too.”
“Fortunately,”
she continued, “the immense variety of this group is a greatly
underappreciated gift. Sure, it can be a
little overwhelming. … But it’s
only a matter of time until you come across someone who shares something
with you.
"What’s even better is that no matter how much you have in
common with these friends,
it’s almost
certain that you will have your
differences, too. Simply put, no one person in this school is the
same.
This is a great thing for so many reasons.”
 The City
School District of Albany serves approximately 8,300 students in 18
elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood
schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as
well as other innovative academic opportunities for students. The
district is more than halfway through its comprehensive facilities
project to newly build and/or renovate nearly all of its elementary and
middle schools. The ultimate goal of the facilities project is to
provide schools with the resources to help students succeed in
the 21st century.
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