High School Dedicates Plaque for Past Valedictorians, Salutatorians
High School Dedicates Plaque for Past Valedictorians, Salutatorians
A project years in the making came to fruition on June 5 with the dedication of a plaque honoring Seaford High School’s valedictorians and salutatorians from the classes of 1958 to 1970. The small but poignant ceremony bridged the school’s past to its present.
The original plaque, which listed the top-ranked graduates from the school’s first 13 years, went missing. Efforts to replace it began when Class of 1970 graduate Susan Scharf, now Susan Renaudo, noticed it was gone. She had returned for her husband John’s 1969 class reunion. She spoke with then-principal Scott Bersin about it and a temporary fix was made by adding her name and salutatorian Virginia Blaurock’s name to the plaque that began with the 1971 graduates.
But the goal was to restore the full history, dating back to the original graduating class of 1958. With so much time passed and the first plaque gone, a years-long effort began to find the names of the valedictorians and salutatorians from 1958 to 1969. Principal Nicole Schnabel said they looked through old records and contacted alumni groups, and were finally able to complete the list and make a new plaque. Her assistant, Toni Coacci, was instrumental in verifying the names.
The Renaudos flew in from California for the occasion and Susan expressed her gratitude for the school’s effort to restore this critical piece of history. In her speech, which she said was likely her first since her valedictory address in June of 1970 in the gymnasium, spoke of the pride in earning that top rank.
“The education we got in Seaford was outstanding,” said Susan, an engineer. “It prepared us not just for college and going on to jobs and such, but also to be able to speak confidently with any kind of group. The education we got here was so broad.”
Connecting to the present, there were speeches from Class of 2025 valedictorian Anastasia Perlegis and salutatorian Ava Caruso, student council officers Olivia Anzelone and Cameron Calderaro, and recent Electrical Training Center graduate Peter Tietz. They spoke about today’s educational opportunities at the high school as well as the meaning of “Seaford Pride.”
Superintendent Dr. Adele Pecora noted that restoring the plaque was important because it is a monument to the school’s legacy of excellence.
“We’re built upon the foundation of those who have come before us,” she said. “We will always appreciate this new piece of history that we will have in our hallways now.”
