Arlington school chief: 'We miss Dan' on graduation day

It doesn't get much luckier than 777 — and that's the number of Arlington High School graduates this year, said Superintendent Brendan Lyons.

But one did not walk in his ceremony Saturday. Daniel Dangerfield, an 18-year-old Arlington senior from Pleasant Valley, died in a car accident on May 31.

"Everybody is celebrating, enjoying all the wonderful things that come with graduation," Lyons said. "His family won't be able to do that. We miss Dan and it's sad that he can't be with us here today. My guess is his family is thinking about graduation…hopefully, Dan is looking down on us."

Students work hard to get to this day, Lyons added.

"This is really what it’s all about, what we work for 13 years for — it’s truly a group effort. We’re just really proud. And 777, you can't get any luckier than that."

Thousands of loved ones attended Arlington's 91st annual graduation ceremony, held Saturday afternoon at Dutchess Stadium.

Twin sisters Dorcas and Debora Cuellar are both off to college — separate ones.

"Everything's changing," Dorcas Cuellar said. "You're going to be independent."

She's excited and nervous, unlike her sister.

"I'm just excited," Debora Cuellar said. "It's finally over."

Executive Principal Paul Fanuele told the graduates to pursue their purposes with conviction.

“I ask that you do not hold back, no matter your size age or circumstances," Fanuele said. “When you get a chance to raise your hand, raise it high."

Valedictorian Hali Pregnall had some advice for her classmates: Get to know people.

“Although we all attended Arlington, we all traveled different paths to get to where we are today,” she said. “If we can get to know each other, maybe we can understand one another. And if we can understand each other, maybe we can love each other.”

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-451-4518, Twitter: @pojonschutzman

Honors:

Valedictorian: Hali Pregnall

Salutatorian: Yusuke Imamura