Two Arlington High School seniors, along with seniors from 12 other Dutchess County school districts, were celebrated for their efforts during the annual Dutchess BOCES Distinguished Graduate Breakfast on May 21 at Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls.
Daniel Cronk and Anna Gatta were selected for this honor. Superintendent Dr. Phil Benante introduced them and their guests, and shared insights into the students’ accomplishments and future plans.
Cronk has trained to be a professional firefighter with a goal of working for the New York Fire Department. He is EMT certified and earned the high school’s prestigious Charlie Johnson Award for his character, service and impact on others, all while challenging himself educationally and preparing for the future.
“What most impressed our team about Dan is how he’s balanced his professional training while maintaining a rigorous schedule, taking several dual enrollment classes, running a small landscaping business and demonstrating a sense of humility, kindness and respect for those he comes in contact with,” Benante said.
Gatta plans to pursue a career in physical therapy and will study exercise science at Sacred Heart University after she graduates. She played varsity tennis and lacrosse, supported differently abled students on the unified bowling team, earned the Seal of Civic Readiness and was a member of the National Honor Society.
“Anna has been active in her volunteer efforts throughout the school community,” Benante said. “Her sense of compassion and empathy for others is just a small part of what made her stand out.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Grace Burns, a Lehigh University junior and a 2023 distinguished graduate herself from Dover High School. She noted that graduates do not need to participate in every extracurricular activity or elective, as they could risk stretching themselves too thin and lose sight of who they really are, something she learned in college.
“Life is short and time is the only currency you can’t earn back,” Burns said. “Being distinguished isn’t about doing everything; it’s about having the courage to do what actually matters.”
Burns challenged the graduates to leave high school with purpose, grit and an identity that means more than what is on a resume. “Don’t spend your whole life building a resume and completely forget to build your character,” Burns said. “Go out there and be more than a transcript, be the person this community already knows you can be.”