Albany High School Class of 2011 celebrates graduation

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 26, 2011) -- Albany High School's 2011 valedictorian is a baseball fan, fanatic and player. So it's only fitting that Bryan Carr's address to his classmates at their graduation today viewed the past, present and future through the lens of America's pastime.

“Frederick Wilcox once said, ‘Progress always involves risk; you can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first,” Carr said to the members of the Class of 2011 and their family and friends that gathered at the University at Albany’s SEFCU Arena on Sunday, June 26. (Carr is pictured at right greeting school board President Daniel Egan and Board Secretary Rose Brandon, Th.D.)

The 468 members of the Class of 2011 were accepted at more than 150 colleges and universities this year. Nearly 90 percent of the graduates plan to attend a two- or four-year college. Carr will attend The College of Saint Rose, where he plans to continue his baseball career as well as his studies. Salutatorian Robert Cosgrove will attend the State University of New York College at Purchase.

“As each of us graduates here today we take our feet off first base and begin a running start toward our futures,” Carr said. “We will face new challenges, responsibilities and endeavors along life’s journey, and although none of us truly knows what waits for us at second base, one thing each of us is sure of is that first base was one we will never forget.

“Every morning we heard, ‘You can’t hide that Falcon pride,’ and not a single one of us is hiding it today,” Carr concluded. “We are showing that pride as we prepare to go out into the world, each of us on different paths, following different dreams. I congratulate all of you on your accomplishments and I wish you the best of luck in the future. Regardless of the path each of us chooses, we will always share a common bond. We will be the 2011 graduating class of Albany High School.”

Click here to read a copy of Carr's address.

Superintendent Raymond Colucciello, Ed.D., turned to 12 members of the Class of 2023 – graduating kindergartners from Pine Hills Elementary School – for help in providing advice to the Albany High Class of 2011. His remarks included a video of theirs, and he also sampled the work of Robert Fulghum, author of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” 

“You can be whatever you want to be,” Dr. Colucciello told the grads, reprising the advice from one Pine Hills Elementary student. “You learned it in kindergarten, and now that you’ve made it to high-school graduation, always remember that advice.

“Hold on to the dreams you have for yourself, and don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.”

The mission of the City School District of Albany is to educate and nurture all students to be responsible citizens, critical thinkers and lifelong learners to successfully compete in the global community by providing an academically rigorous and safe environment in partnership with parents, students and the community. The district serves about 8,400 students in 16 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes three magnet schools and other innovative academic opportunities for students.