Faculty, students, families and friends gathered for AIM Academy's sixth Upper School commencement exercises on Friday, June 2 as the 15 members of the Class of 2017 received their diplomas.

New York cinematographer and Long Island University media arts professor Larry Banks delivered the school's 6^th commencement address focusing on the traits of compassion, passion and grit that he said will lead to successful futures.

"You have an awesome school," Banks, who like many AIM students, has dyslexia, told the audience gathered in the school's new 23,000 square-foot AIM Community Center (ACC). "For many of us this is a tricky journey fraught with difficulty and change and there are many things we have to adapt to in order to [succeed]. Parents and teachers, it is your compassion and support that lets [these students] be here today."

Banks shared his struggles as a learner and his success in the film industry after finding his passion for photography and told the audience that compassion, passion and grit are the three skills needed to discover one's strengths.

"When you turn inside and find your passion, you get direction," Banks said. "Passion, compassion and grit. I see the great things you have done. You guys have incredible talents and I have seen the compassion of the teachers at AIM. Your teachers have fed you with compassion, they have determined to be sure you could get to this place. So now, with your grit and passion looking inside yourself, you'll move forward. Your difference will add to the world."

Nancy Blair, AIM Academy's Associate Director introduced the two senior speakers Andrew Rosenstein and Molly Cassidy. Both students shared their appreciation for the support provided by teachers during their years at AIM as they learned to become self-advocates and discover and capitalize on their strengths despite their learning differences.

After the presentation of diplomas, Blair and AIM Executive Director Pat Roberts presented three unique awards to students:

• The Marvins Award – Kyle Petras; awarded upon graduation to an AIM senior who embodies the values of Respect, Citizenship, Leadership and Perseverance so exemplified by AIM founding board members Marvin N. Demchick and Marvin D. Alloy.
• Lou Uchitel Spirit Award – Sam McCormick; awarded upon graduation to an AIM senior who embodies the values of Inclusion, Friendship, School Spirit and Persistence so exemplified by AIM supporter Lou Uchitel.
• Arts & Creativity Award – Kendall Hancock; awarded upon graduation to an AIM senior who excels in their craft and who plans to use their art as the platform for their success beyond AIM.

One hundred percent of AIM's senior class is college bound this fall pursuing studies from engineering to the fine arts. The group includes six varsity athletes, a U.S. Figure Skating Silver Level Senior Award winner, a film festival winner, an Eagle Scout and the co-founder of AIM's Eye to Eye mentoring program. AIM seniors, all of whom took dual-enrollment classes at Cabrini University during the school year, were accepted by more than 60 universities and colleges across the country and received almost $4 million in Merit-Based Scholarship offers.