Twenty-six eighth grade students will graduate from the Menands School during an evening ceremony on June 26.
The rising high school students are leaving the PreK-8 school district and are largely pursuing their academic endeavors in four area school districts—North Colonie, South Colonie, Watervliet and Tech Valley High School.
The ceremony begins at 6 p.m. at the Menands School, located at 19 Wards Lane.
The eighth graders are completing a rigorous academic routine at Menands that provided many of them with advanced academic courses in a small school setting.
“We are extremely proud of the work they have done and the value they have added to the greater Menands School community,” said Superintendent Jennifer Cannavo.
Eighth grader Samar Shivasankar is attending Tech Valley High School in the fall.
“They have good technology programs, and that is what I am interested in,” said Shivasankar, an aspiring biotech scientist.
Classmate Ahmed Ahmed is attending North Colonie in the fall. 
“It has lots of options that I can choose from and a lot of my friends are going there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Angela Brianna Y. Villamor is attending South Colonie in the fall.
“My parents think it’s a good choice, and I am looking forward to the new experiences,” she said.
Adhiraa Sivakumar is taking the memories she made at Menands and traveling to the other side of the world with them.
“I am [moving] to India with my family,” she said. “It’s going to be a different experience. I am excited to learn new things.”
Nearly every graduate said their best memories at Menands centered on the eighth grade trip to Camp Chingachgook. Students spent three days last September at the camp taking part in numerous adventures while building community and leadership skills.
“My favorite memory is going to Camp Chingachgook. It was very fun,and we had a lot of time to hang out with our friends and bond,” said Evelyn Jaskula.
The Menands Class of 2025 is as follows:
- Ahmed Ahmed
- Isa Ahmed
- Mohamed Salah AWAD Ahmed
- Deztinee Avila
- Elise Rose Barden
- Sri Manvi Battu
- Daniel Austin Brembs
- Amarion E. Brown
- Siva Saranya Karthika Chembeti
- Jayden Chen
- Mariana E. Finnegan
- Soleil Mia Galloway
- Evelyn Jaskula
- D. Jack Johnson
- Kritheek Kumar Kandukuri
- Lasai Keith
- Prince Kyiretwie
- Shawn Mendonca
- Bihmama A. Mendong
- Umair Mohammed
- MEENAKSHI PRIJESH NAIR
- Hira Naz
- Samar Shivasankar
- Adhiraa Sivakumar
- Kubra Syeda
- Angela Brianna Y. Villamor