On a warm and sultry Thursday evening, June 21, Bloomfield High School held its Commencement ceremony on the new Foley Field.

Sitting in neat rows wearing red caps and gowns, the graduates' excitement was evident on their faces. 

There was a historic footnote to the celebrations that night. The 2012 class was graduating on the new Foley Field for the very first time, following years of costly renovations that were finally completed last September.  In April, when the high school decided to host the graduation ceremony in the gym instead of at Foley, the students fought for -- and won -- the right to graduate on their beloved Foley Field.

The ceremony Thursday night came at the end of a day where the temperature had topped 100 degrees.  A bottle of water had thoughtfully been placed underneath each graduating student's folding chair.  And, because of the heat, the 158th Commencement ceremony began with an announcement that all adult speeches were cancelled; only the student body would get a chance to speak.

Class President Denise Preddie was the first to take the podium. 

"Most of us will think, going out into the world, am I good enough?  Am I smart enough?" she began. "Don't doubt yourself. Today we look at ourselves and say, Ready or not, here we come!"

Salutorian John Wiley struck a humorous note for his speech.  As his classmates laughed, he joked, "Class of 2012, I'm breaking up with you!  What we had was more than special over the past four years but I think it's time we started seeing other people."

Class Valedictorian Richard Lee spoke next. "Who you are goes beyond your personality and your parents," he said. "The final credit always goes to the student."

Following the students' remarks, the graduates formed two lines on either side of the stage. One by one their names were announced and they received their diplomas.  After the final student's name was announced, the class of 2010 shouted with joy and threw their caps in the air. 

After being congratulated by friends, family and classmates, the graduates hurried off the field and into waiting schoolbuses for their Project Graduation festivities: a New York City boat ride through the night, followed by a 3:00 a.m. breakfast.

Congratulations Bloomfield High School Class of 2012!! 

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