118806211
As the familiar notes from Sir Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” welcomed their arrival in the auditorium of Edward Bok Technical High School, 1901 S. Ninth St., June 20, 151 seniors displayed a blend of gladness and sadness.
Eager to accept acknowledgment for their four-year commitment to academic and personal growth, they also entered with the proud yet simultaneously upsetting distinction of being the East Passyunk Crossing site’s final graduates.
“This is a historical moment for you,” Principal Dr. W. David Bowman said. “You’ve done great work here, and as you begin to figure out your next steps, make sure you always stay positive.”
Remaining upbeat might have sounded impossible March 7 when the School Reform Commission announced the shuttering of the 75-year-old location to chip away at the School District of Philadelphia’s $304-million debt crisis. The body is relocating Bok’s Career and Technical Education programs to South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., with the future of the 2.2-acre building, a 1986 National Register of Historic Places honoree and the heating space for Southwark School, 1835 S. Ninth St., undetermined, though Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger is leading a plan to sell or repurpose it, with the Art Deco-style auditorium a particularly appealing space.
Architecture mattered little to the departing learners as they settled into their seats. Mixing tears and laughs, the white- and blue-clad teenagers reverently listened as salutatorian Hien Ho recounted their evolution from often brash freshmen to wise and wishful seniors.
“The hard work has finally paid off,” the resident of Eighth Street and Snyder Avenue and commercial arts and advertising student said. “We will miss the high school experience and at the same time treasure it.”
Set to attend Temple University as a nursing major, the Lower Moyamensing dweller earned a $1,500 Philadelphia Public School Retired Employees Association honor, contributing to the graduates’ $373,500 awards and scholarships tally. James Phillips, the only pupil to top Ho’s grades, drew applause upon the announcement of his cumulative $82,600 endowments from corporations and universities.
“Four short years ago we came here, many of us unfocused, but now we’re a unified family,” the valedictorian said. “All of you have helped me, and as we separate, we have to remember that graduation is the first step in the journey of life, which we should live to the fullest. We will B-O-K.”
A project of the Public Works Administration, Bok opened in 1938 and came to help the country’s cause in World War II by training numerous workers, including USS Alaska crew members, whose vessel docked in The Philadelphia Navy Yard, 4747 S. Broad St., for alterations shortly after its ’44 commissioning. With thousands of success stories in its annals, the institution picked up two more major accolades within the last year, designation from the Anti-Defamation League as a No Place for Hate zone and commendation from the Michigan-based Nocti for stellar scores on career and technical standardized tests. Those and other honors came to the forefront when Tom DeFelice received warm applause before beginning his commencement speech.
“I had many of you for health and physical education, and you all got As, so that’s why you’re clapping,” the retired coach and educator, who spent 43 years at the facility before leaving in 2011, said. “Anyway, I want for you to think about the changes you’ve gone through and consider the ones you will encounter and realize the key to understanding them all is education.”
The former Bella Vista resident explained that the learners must proceed by relying on their faith, families, friends and foundations, or building blocks, tabbing their teachers’ advice to persevere as a sure guide to remaining viable in a competitive world.
“I still do exactly what Mr. DeFelice told them to do,” Ben Latimer, a resident of the 1200 block of South 16th Street and a 1988 graduate who never had the Glen Mills inhabitant as a teacher but holds him in high regard, said. “They’ll all do just fine.”
Outgoing athletic director and chemistry teacher Frank Natale, who played football for DeFelice as a West Catholic High School attendee, and succeeded him as Bok’s baseball and football coach, followed him at the podium to distribute awards to athletes from 11 sports, endowing Phillips with two for his track and field and wrestling exploits.
“Bok has given me a sense of fulfillment and purpose, and Mr. Natale has been a huge part of that,” the Northeast Philly denizen and class president said. “No matter what we’ve pursued, though, everyone has been so supportive.”
With emotions soaring after their singing of R. Kelly’s “The World’s Greatest,” the adolescents began to ascend the stage to accept their diplomas, with some electing to do casual walks and others engaging in creative jaunts to pick up the proof of their dedication.
“This part always gets me because I know how many sacrifices so many of these kids have had to make and how many hardships they’ve gone through,” Natale, a resident of the 1600 block of South Juniper Street, said upon shaking hands with one such figure, Antoine Whitney, an All-Public wide receiver and defensive back, whose sister, Nyesha Whitney, became a homicide victim in Southwest Philly four years ago. “It’s a shame they’re going to be the last group, but you couldn’t ask for a better bunch to be the last ones to call themselves Bok graduates.”
When Melvin Phillips became the last commended student to have his name called, the auditorium erupted, with even more cheers coming after class vice president Mia Spady instructed her peers to move their tassles to the right of their caps. Belting out the three verses of their alma mater by ’41 graduate William M. Hawkins, they shared handshakes, hugs, stories and predictions on what the future might bring them, their now-former school and their would-be successors who will start September at Southern or other secondary spots.
“Mahatma Gandhi said ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world,’” James Phillips, set to matriculate at Penn State’s Abington campus as an engineering major, said. “I definitely think we can make it happen.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
118806271
118806231
