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BSM06152017

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP JUNE 16 – JUNE 22, 2017 23 Bishop Kearney student becomes police commissioner for a day Donna Murphy '78 addresses Class of 2017 Bishop Kearney High School’s 56th Commencement Exercise for the Class of 2017 was held on Saturday, June 3 at Our Lady of Angels Church. The commencement speaker, Donna Murphy, addressed the graduates saying, “I truly believe that my experience attending an allgirls school, run by strong female role models, gave me the confidence to pursue endeavors I might not otherwise have thought possible.” She encouraged the graduates to, “First, have a plan. Always have a plan, and then have a Plan B. Life is full of twists and turns, and if you are able to ride the tide of uncertainty you will thrive, because you will be able to adapt.” She also said, “It’s okay to make mistakes and start over. That’s why the world has erasers, and lawyers. It’s not how many times you might stumble or fall, but how many times Photos courtesy of Bishop Kearney High School Scenes from the graduation of the Class of 2017 at Bishop Kearney. you dust yourself off and get back on your feet that count.” Murphy added, “I hope that wherever life takes you, you too will be lucky enough to look back upon your days at Bishop Kearney as a time when the foundation of your future was first laid.” Not only has 100 percent of the Class of 2017 been accepted to college but 94 percent of the Class of 2017 has received over $30 million in college scholarships. In addition, Kearney students have been accepted to Yale University, NYU, Macaulay Honors, Vassar, Villanova, Fordham and George Washington University. BY JAIME DEJESUS [email protected] She was a commish for a day! Recent graduate of Bishop Kearney High School and Bensonhurst resident Jenna Fiordimondo snagged the title of Police Commissioner for a Day thanks to the winning essay she submitted to a competition run by the Police Athletic League. Some 2,000 students from around the five boroughs apply, which made the honor extra special for the Kearney grad as she received the award at police headquarters, and spent the day with NYPD Police Commissioner James O’Neill on Wednesday, June 7. “After learning more about the NYPD and all that they do, I really became determined to hopefully one day shadow the police commissioner,” said the 17-year-old Bensonhurst resident. “My favorite television show is 'Blue Bloods.' It’s really helped me appreciate all that the officers do every day and I really wanted a behind-thescenes look at the police commissioner’s job and his crazy schedule. Since freshman year, I would write the essay in hopes I would win and this year, I got lucky.” The essay was about what the police commissioner can do to help prevent drug use among teens. “My main goal would be to use the school curriculum against drug use, as well as group meetings and peer groups and visits from special guests whose lives have been harmed by drug use, to serve as a wake-up call to students,” she said. When Fiordimondo found out that her dream had come true, she was ecstatic, as were her teachers and family. “I was at school and my English teacher came up to me and said there are people downstairs to see you. I had no idea what it was about,” she recalled. “I went downstairs to the office and there were about 10 police officers waiting for me to tell me the good news and I was so excited.” Once it was time to celebrate her accomplishment with O’Neill and tell her story, Fiordimondo was scared but excited. “Early in the morning, we were picked up by a police officer. I was very nervous, but she really made me feel welcome. We drove to 1 Police Plaza where the ceremony was held and they escorted us to the 14th floor to meet with the commissioner,” she said. “He told us about his day and what it looks like, how busy he is. I got to sit behind his big desk and he gave me his hat and a special badge to hold. It was great.” Then came the award ceremony, where she received a plaque. “I got to read my essay in front of everybody. I was a little nervous but it was a good type of nerves,” she said. "Then we got to have lunch with the commissioner and he showed us the command center.” Throughout the day, Fiordimondo — who plans to attend St. John’s University this all — gained a greater appreciation for what police officers do day in and day out. “He helped me appreciate the NYPD even more because of all they do to keep us safe every day,” she said. “They make such a difference. He works from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and even though it’s his job, you couldn’t tell because he loves what he does so much and he talks with such pride about how he cares about the safety of all New Yorkers.” Photo courtesy of Bishop Kearney High School Jenna Fiordimondo with Police Commissioner James O’Neill.


BSM06152017
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