The applause given to East Haven High School Class of 2015 Valedictorian Natalia Wiszniewski said a lot about the graduating class and the community that was there to help celebrate on June 17.

In her speech, Wiszniewski spoke of the Governor’s Scholars Award presented to her and 29 other high school students from Connecticut schools. She admitted the other students “were probably thinking, how does someone from East Haven get this award?”

Wiszniewski told her classmates to be proud of their East Haven roots.

“For some reason, people think this school is inferior to theirs, and that this is a mediocre town. All those people are wrong,” she said.” This is a great town inhabited with friendly people.”

The 194 members of the Class of 2015 also heard speeches from Class President Corrine Palmer, Salutatorian Sophia Gem Sabaten, Superintendent of East Haven Public Schools Dr. Portia S. Bonner, Board of Education Chair John Finkle, and Mayor Jospeh Maturo, Jr.

Maturo congratulated and encouraged students, told them to not ever be afraid of losing, citing his four election losses. He also continued the tradition that he started in 1997 and asked students to rise from their seats, and thank the people who attended the ceremony for their love and support.

He urged students to “work hard, play hard and not take yourselves too seriously,” adding, “Do not hesitate to stick up for what’s right.”