OBHS class of 2000 will graduate on Tuesday
By natalie m. vena
Staff Writer

Arpita Parikh

OLD BRIDGE – The high school’s first graduating class of the new millennium is ready to celebrate after Tuesday’s graduation ceremonies.

A couple of months ago, Old Bridge High School seniors had a black cloud hanging over their graduation ceremony.

Due to a scheduling conflict, the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel bumped the class of 2000 because of a rock concert scheduled for the same night. The Board of Education was left with the task of finding a new venue large enough to accommodate the nearly 600 graduating students and their family members.

After much trepidation, board members and students agreed to hold graduation ceremonies at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton.

Daniel Shaw

"With the obvious exception of distance, the Sovereign Bank Arena offers virtually everything we seek in a graduation site," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Rodriguez during an interview last month. "There is sufficient parking, unlimited seating and a wonderful sound system."

Graduation ceremonies will commence at noon on Tuesday. Dr. Christopher Trafficante, Old Bridge High School principal, will welcome the students during the ceremony. Rodriguez and board member Annette Hopman will also be addressing the class, and Mayor Barbara Cannon will lend a helping hand distributing diplomas.

Music at the ceremony will be provided by the high school band and chorus.

At the head of the millennium class are Arpita Parikh, class valedictorian, and Daniel Shaw, class salutatorian.

Parikh and Shaw are eager to graduate, but said they will miss their friends once they start college.

Parikh is a member of the National Honor Society, for which she participated in school fund-raisers to raise money for the graduating class.

"I’m very excited to graduate," Parikh said, "but it is kind of scary also. I have been with the same friends for a long time."

Parikh said she is looking forward to moving on and trying new things.

Parikh’s high school activities included, but were not limited to, membership in the National Art Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and the Student Senate.

As a member of the Art Honor Society, Parikh acted as historian.

"I took pictures of activities that occurred throughout Old Bridge, such as the Old Bridge Fair and the arts festival," she said. "Then I created a scrapbook and helped raise money for scholarships."

Last summer, Parikh attended the Governor’s School of Arts at the College of New Jersey.

Parikh also helped raise money for physically abused women in Ghana, Africa. She organized a book drive to obtain inspirational books for local women who are presently incarcerated.

She is looking forward to attending Swarthmore College, Pa., this fall.

"I am not sure what I will major in yet," Parikh said. "If I had to decide now, I would chose a major in art and minor in Spanish and psychology."

The valedictorian will not be taking time off to relax this summer. She said she would like to work with children at a day care center or at a summer camp.

"I would like to volunteer at a camp for mentally disabled kids located in Sayreville," Parikh said.

Throughout his high school career, Shaw has been an avid athlete as well as a good student.

He has been playing soccer since he was 5 years old and played all four years on the high school’s team.

And just for fun, Shaw started playing tennis last year for the first time and spent his senior year playing on the high school’s doubles varsity team. During the winter and spring Shaw was on the track team, and he was on the swim team during his junior year.

In addition, he is an officer of the National Honor Society.

"I helped run the St. Jude’s Hospital fund-raiser," he said. "We raised $1,300 for children with cancer."

Not only does Shaw work hard in school, he also works hard after school.

Shaw worked at a local car wash for three years, where he cleaned and detailed cars, and this summer he will be employed as a lifeguard at Country Roads Day Camp in Manalapan. He is planning to work as pizza delivery person at night.

Shaw will be attending Emery University, Atlanta, in the fall. The salutatorian is considering majoring in pre-med but will begin with biology and philosophy.

"I want to keep my options open," he said.

"You work hard for so long and it’s so much fun," Shaw said. "But as of now, this is the most exciting time of my life."