We are raising a fear-filled generation.

VOORHEESVILLE — The arts are something this year’s salutatorian said she will take with her the rest of her life. Jennifer Lysenko played in the band, sang in the chorus, and acted on stage at Clayton A. Bouton High.

VOORHEESVILLE — When asked his fondest memory of his Voorheesville education, this year’s valedictorian, Matt Lombardi, said, "My whole senior year as a class."

VOORHEESVILLE — The sun beat down and then off the pavement, casting a glow on the graduates’ faces as they processed into the tent set up alongside their school’s athletic field.

Though the days were dark and dreary during the winter and spring months, there was a bright light on local athletes, especially at Voorheesville.

GUILDERLAND — Fifty years after the first class of Guilderland High School graduated, the current class went out in style.

BERNE — The class of 2005 valedictorian for Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School is Kendall Bunzey, of Berne. The salutatorian is Kristopher Geist, of East Berne.

Kendall Bunzey

By Maggie Gordon

Not long ago, I was in their shoes — mine killed my feet by the way. In fact, it was only a year ago that I graduated from Berne-Knox-Westerlo with the class of 2004.

"I don't know a soul who's not been battered/ I don't have a friend who feels at ease/ I don't know a dream that's not been shattered/ or driven to its knees."
-Paul Simon, "American Tune"