On Tuesday-13-August The Emergency Services Youth Academy in Bogota, NJ held their graduation ceremony for Class 08. The 60 Cadets who fulfilled the requirements of the Academy program were honoured at a ceremony in front of Family and Friends in the Bogota High School Gym. Earlier in the day the Cadets did their annual March though Bogota. The Cadets marched through the streets on the Eastern part of the Borough while reciting their cadence calls for this year. Family and Friends stood on the sidewalks and watch the formation pass by. This allowed the Cadets to display the part of their training of working together as one unit they had been taught at the Academy.
To begin the ceremony The Cadets marched into the Gym lead by bagpipe music, they lead the audience in the pledge of Allegiance and performed a close order drill. The first speaker was previous Program Coordinator Anna Geraghty “Miss Anna”. She talked working with Sgt Lynch over ten years ago to start this idea to offer instruction to Middle School Students in Bogota. She said how this idea has grown into one of the finest Summer Youth programs in the State of New Jersey. She continued to say she wishes she could still be apart of the day to day operation of the Academy, but is proud and honoured to see important the Academy has become to the Students of Bogota. Miss Anna then took the time to ask for everyone in the room to stand and recognize Program Director Sgt Craig Lynch for his vision, dedication, and hard work over the past decade. With a long and loud round of applause the stoic heart of the Academy was rendered speechless with the out pouring of appreciation.
Program Administrator Elizabeth Wieskus moved the ceremonies along and introduced the guest speakers. First was Bogota Police Chief Daniel Maye, he was followed by Bogota Mayor Chris Kelemen and other members of Bogota Council. They all addressed the Cadets to congratulate them for what the have achieved. The Cadets were also thanked for their effort over the two weeks of training. The Graduating Cadets were then presented with their Certificate of Achievements from the Academy by Program Director Sgt Craig Lynch and Program Administrator Elizabeth Wieskus. They also received Certificate of Recognition from the office of New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer. The Cadets were also given medals from the Bogota Rescue Squad.
The next part of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to the Squads that prevailed at a number of competitions that took place during Academy training. There were also individual awards for Courage to the Cadets who made the extra effort to succeed, even if the Cadet themselves were unsure they could finish their training. After this three Cadets were asked to step forward. They were honoured for having been a member of three Academy Classes. Michelle Maure # 34, Adrian Rodriguez #55, and Stephen Sanz #60 were present with a framed copy of their uniform in recognition of the retirement of that number from the Academy roster. Of the over 500 Cadets graduating from this program only 9 had been able to attend three times. An Academy Alumni Amisha Singh #28 was also was present with her number. She was not able to attend the Academy for a third time due to Family function. Sgt Lynch said that a Students Family will always come first. But he also wanted to acknowledge her commitment to the Academy. Next Class Commander Cadet Michelle Maure was awarded with the leadership Trophy for leading Class 08 on their Duty Days. Finally Sgt Lynch and Program Miss Wieskus announced that Cadet Allie Racioppi and Cadet Luis Ferrera where named First & Second runner-ups for the Honor Graduate Award. Then, with the help of previous Honor Graduates it was announced that Cadet Shea Losino had won the title of Honor Graduate for Class 08. Cadet Losino then posed with his Family for photos. The one more order was given, which was that Class 08 was dismissed. They then joined their Family, Friends, as the newest Academy Alumni, for a small celebration.
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Cadet March
Class 08 Graduation
Select photos from the Bogota Blog NJ collection are now available for purchase.
These may be order from the Bogota Blog NJ Zenfolio store at: Bogotablognj / ESYA
( To help support Bogota Blog NJ with its coverage of Local stories & sports
please contribute at: donate to Bogota Blog NJ )
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