Commack – Huntington Supervisor Frank P. Petrone delivered the keynote address and Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards helped hand out the diplomas as the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center held its 27th annual adult education commencement ceremony on June 2.
Thirty Gurwin residents, all wearing caps and gowns, received certificates for completing the eight-month program, which included classes on nine topics ranging from an introduction to psychology to America’s military to Space:The Final Frontier.
In his remarks, Supervisor Petrone noted the sacrifices the students had made during their lives to see that their children and grandchildren received proper educations and noted that now was the time for them to receive recognition for continuing their goal of lifelong learning. The Supervisor ended his remarks by quoting form a poem written by the late television host, Art Linkletter, that said: “There’s always one hill higher, with a better view/Something waiting to be learned that I never knew./Till my days are over, never fully fill my cup./Let me go on growing—up.”
A number of the graduates helped lead parts of the ceremony, including addresses by valedictorian Maria Perez and salutatorian Joseph Donlon.
In the photo: seated, l-r, valedictorian Maria Perez and salutatorian Joseph Donlon. Standing, l-r: Joanne Parisi, assistant administrator, Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center; Councilwoman Tracey A. Edwards; Stuart B. Almer, Gurwin administrator/COO; Supervisor Frank P. Petrone; Gurwin board chairman Larry J. Simon; and Herbert H. Friedman, Gurwin executive vice president/CEO.