The Bayport-Blue Point High School held its Class of 2024 graduation on the football field lawn on Friday, June 21.

The scoreboard was programmed to read “20-24,” with the 20 in the BBP slot to which outgoing principal, James Nolan, quipped, “That’s the only time we’ll be down!”

Nolan spoke of the Class of 2024 being a collection of champions in diverse areas of athletics, arts, and academics.

“When I was younger, I dreamed of this moment… I wholeheartedly believe that every person is made up of bits and pieces of everyone around them. It is beautiful to see that represented by all of you,” said salutatorian, Faith DiBiase, who is attending George Washington University for political science this fall.

“I would like to say thank you to my loving parents, who have tried relentlessly for weeks to get this speech out of me. Their support and understanding are the reasons I am standing here today. My dad’s texts that read, ‘How’s it going, my little champion?’ and my mom’s end-of-the-year notes that sum up perfectly everything we’ve been through are what keep me humble through the triumphs and persistent through the hardships,” said DiBiase.

Valedictorian George Rose started off by thanking DiBiase, “…for going first and taking a little pressure off of me.”

“I have to recognize my graduating class as a whole. All of you guys have made going to school every day a privilege instead of a chore, so I thank you,” said Rose, who will be attending Colgate University for environmental biology.

Rose and DiBiase, who have been friends since elementary school, shared the podium graciously.

“At the beginning of this year, when Mr. Nolan first called down Faith and me to tell us about our achievement, I was stunned, to say the least. Not about the Faith part, though—she’s probably the smartest person I know—but I never thought I would be the one doing this. I remember her reaction was ‘I’ve always wanted to be able to give a speech since I was little,’ and then mine was ‘Great, now I have to write a speech and give it in front of everyone,’” said Rose.