Schools Scene

An RFH Class of 2021 Graduation Comeback

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Class of 2021 graduation has made an in-person, maskless comeback.

In a ceremony that reverted to a form of semi post-pandemic normalcy, 245 gathered together for the last time on Monmouth University’s Kessler Stadium field for the official conferral of their diplomas.

In accordance with Gov. Phil Murphy’s relaxation of mandates on outdoor gatherings, graduates were honored in traditional fashion, surrounded by faculty, family and friends once again. There was one bit of new pandemic time tradition that remained. The ceremony was live-streamed for all family members and friends who could not or preferred not to attend and for the entire community to watch and celebrate. 

Over the years, graduation ceremony venue traditions have varied … from the Borden Stadium at the high school, to the front lawn in ’78 (due to stadium construction), to the auditorium, to back at the stadium and back inside because of rain, and, finally, to indoors Monmouth University … and now outside again, but at Monmouth.

About the RFH Class of 2021 graduation ceremony …

The ceremony itself is has always been an RFH one of pretty standard tradition, including speeches.

This year, RFH Valedictorian Morgan Rice, Class President Kayla Kenny and Student Government President Peter O’Connor took turns addressing their fellow graduates, faculty, staff, administrators, Board of Education members, and family and friends. Each spoke about both the expected high school memories and those more unexpected and unique to the last year of unprecedented circumstances that the Class of 2021 shared and shared words of inspiration for an uncharted future.  

Kevin Pfister, first year principal, delivered his first graduation address illuminating the resiliency and spirit of the Class of 2021 and the entire RFH community while Superintendent Debra Gulick applauded the Class of 2021’s momentous academic and extracurricular achievements in the face of pandemic adversity.

The class, she said, persevered through a completely unprecedented hybrid learning environment, navigated brand new educational technology and competed, performed and connected with each other and their teachers in completely unique COVID-friendly ways.  

The experience, she said, made the RFH Class of 2021 more resilient and adaptable in addition to bringing the students closer.

Congratulations to the RFH Class of 2021!  

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