Gateway Celebrates 2005 Graduates & Welcomes Back 1990, 1995 and 2000 Alumni
Third Annual Graduation/Reunion Event a Great Success
By: Edwing Medina, Deputy Director Gateway Institute, Jamaica H.S. Gateway 1990 Alumnus
August 17, 2005

On Saturday evening, June 11, 2005, the Gateway Institute celebrated its third annual senior graduation and alumni reunion, welcoming back over 30 alumni from the Gateway classes of 1990, 1995 and 2000 (celebrating their 15-, 10-, and 5-year reunions), and honoring nearly 100 graduates from the Class of 2005.  The event, held in the elegant Great Hall at City College of New York's Shepard Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., was a blend of reminiscence, pomp and circumstance, and all-out party.

Alumni represented the fields of medicine, science, law, finance, technology, engineering, commerce, and academia. Old friendships were rekindled, memories were shared, and networking opportunities were realized.  The graduating seniors, Gateway's newest alumni, were introduced to other Gateway graduates headed for the same colleges or universities in the Fall.   The alumni offered inspirational narratives and sage advice to their younger counterparts.  The graduating seniors, in turn, updated the alumni about the facilities and staff at their respective high schools.

The celebration was professionally DJ'd by local Bronx DJ "Baby Dee", who played everything from the "Casper Slide" to dance classics from Marvin Gaye and Barry White. Several times the entire dance floor was filled with alums of all ages executing synchronized dance steps.  Additional entertainment was provided by Gateway student groups, featuring a two-song rock performance by Port Richmond High School's "Everything Falls Apart" (with sisters Mayra & Ednita Lorenzo, Stephanie Rivera and Andrew Gordon), and an incredible dance performance by Port Richmond High School's "H2O"(Hip-Hop Officials), with Siegfried Prieto.  Another highlight of the evening was culinary. Gateway alumnus Chai Trivedi (Jamaica 1990) and his Sitar Catering staff (http://www.sitarny.com/) provided a many course pan-Asian meal that had everyone's taste buds tingling.

An emotional moment came when Jamaica Gateway 1995 alumnus (now a plastic surgeon at Columbia-Presbyterian) James Lyles proposed to his high school sweetheart and fellow Gateway alumna Yavena Deoki (now finishing her Masters in Human Resources at N.Y.I.T.) after a pre-arranged performance by "Things Fall Apart" of their special song.  As has happened for so many other Gateway couples, Yavena responded "yes."  Congratulations!

All agreed that this year's Graduation/Reunion Event was a huge success. Next year's celebration for the graduation Class of 2006 and alumni from the classes of 1991, 1996 and 2001 is already in the planning stage, and the date has been set for Saturday, June 10th, 2006.  Topping this year's festivities will be difficult, but the Gateway Student Council (with Mr. Edwing Medina advising) will certainly give it its "Gateway best" as the Gateway Institute continues to fête its best!