OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward The Dunkirk Summer Graduation Class of 2019 was honored at Dunkirk High School Tuesday. Front row, left to right: Chaelee Vega and Natasha Marrero. Back row, left to right: Taneisharys Nevarez Lopez, Keyshly Velez, Christian Rosario, Kayin Odebralski, Orlando Casablanca, Evonnah Thomas, D’Vante Casey and Brenden Polowy. Missing from the photo was Danyell Butts.

For 11 Dunkirk High School seniors, they worked overtime through the summer to reach an important goal: graduation.

Last Tuesday, the school board and administration took time to salute the graduates. Those honored for their achievement included: Orlando Casablanca, D’Vante Casey, Natasha Marrero, Taneisharys Nevarez Lopez, Kayin Odebralski, Brenden Polowy, Christian Rosario, Evonnah Thomas, Chaelee Vega, Keyshly Velez and Danyell Butts.

Ethan Yannie, the 2019 senior class president, also showed up for the event and offered some advice to his classmates. “The relationships we’re in, our environment, or even the way we perceive the world around us can cause us to feel stuck within our own lives, but life is not a burden, it’s a gift and it’s a gift that we all share,” he said. “If there is a will to succeed, there’s a way to achieve.”

Bravo.