Casey and Brandon – Tom Thumb Graduates

Casey and Brandon – Tom Thumb Graduates

What are the chances of bumping into two Tom Thumb Graduates in a huge medical facility?

Since Tom Thumb Preschool opened its doors in 1968, over 11,000 Tom Thumber have graduated. Now, Westchester Medical Center, located in Valhalla, NY, is a 415-bed academic hospital and the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. Westchester Medical Center employs more than 13,000 people, including nearly 3,000 attending physicians.

So, it was a delightful surprise to meet 2 Tom Thumb graduates at this huge medical facility in Valhalla that’s part of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, which is composed of 10 hospitals on 8 campuses and spans 6,200 square miles in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley.  2 tom thumbers at westchester medical center

I met two Tom Thumb Graduates, Casey and Brandon, at the Valhalla medical facility. Each Tom Thumber was from a different graduation year. Casey and Brandon remember their Tom Thumb experience and consider it a benefit and contributor to who they are and their success. Casey is an occupational therapist and lives in Westchester County.  Brandon is part of the PT medical staff and lives in Dutchess County.

It was wonderful talking with Casey and Brandon and reminiscing. I asked them to pose for a picture so I could share it on the Tom Thumb Blog.

Brandon and Casey are tom thumb graduates

Tom Thumb Students with Sergeant Brian Fitzgerald

Tom Thumb Students with Sergeant Brian Fitzgerald

Sergeant Brian Fitzgerald attended Tom Thumb Preschool from September 1999 through June June 2001
He enlisted in the US Army in January 2017 with a job (Military Occupation Specialist: 88M ) as a Motor Transport Operator.
Brian is unmarried and lives at the Scofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii.
 
 

class picture of tom thumb students with Sergeant Brian Fitzgerald, a 2001 Tom Thumb Graduate

Tom Thumb Students with Sergeant Brian Fitzgerald, a 2001 Tom Thumb Graduate

Sergeant Fitzgerald – 2001 Graduate

Sergeant Fitzgerald – 2001 Graduate

Meet Sergeant Brian Fitzgerald, a 2001 Tom Thumb Graduate

Currently, Brian is a sergeant in the United States Army stationed in Hawaii.

Brian attended  Tom Thumb Preschool from September 1999 through June June 2001
He enlisted in the US Army in January 2017 with a job (Military Occupation Specialist: 88M ) as a Motor Transport Operator.
Brian is not married and lives at the Scofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii.
He plans to make a career in the US Army and wants to stay for at least 20 years.

Click on the pictures below to enlarge.

brain fitzgerald at tom thumb preschool graduation

Brian Fitzgerald at the 2001 Tom Thumb Graduation

Briab fitzgerald as an adult

Brian Fitzgerald – US Army Sergeant

 

Lakeland 2021 Valedictorian

Lakeland 2021 Valedictorian

Lakeland High School 2021 Valedictorian, Tom Thumb Graduate of 2008

“At Tom Thumb, we are all proud of Sayani Aggarwal for her achievements and the person she has become. It’s with warm affection I look back at the past. It seems almost like yesterday when Sayani was a little kid with a big smile in her cap and gown at her Tom Thumb Graduation in 2008. Now, she is a young woman with a wonderful future ahead.  Sayani is part of the Next Great Generation of Americans that will change this world.”, Nancy Brophy

image of press artical of tom thumb class of 2008 student, Sayani Aggarwal

GRADUATION SECTION — Special Supplement to Yorktown News – July 8, 2021

GRADUATION SECTION — Special Supplement to Yorktown News – July 8, 2021

 

Lakeland High School

 

Valedictorian – Sayani Aggarwal

 

By Nick Trujillo Staff Writer

 

Under the scorching sun at Dutchess Stadium, Lakeland’s Sayani Aggarwal addressed her classmates, faculty, and parents, reflecting on the past four years and how the unique end to her high school career allowed her class to appreciate aspects of her school in ways they would not have.

“We had no choice but to cherish the moments we had in high school as we sat in our homes for days on end,” said the valedictorian. ‘As we figured out how to express emotions behind a mask, we cherished the times when we could clearly see a classmate’s smile across a room.”

When COVID-19 regulations started to lift, and Lakeland students could begin – to meet in person again, Aggarwal said that this added to the impact those moments would make on their high school memories.

“When we were given opportunities to gain back some sense of normalcy, we cherished these moments even more because we knew that these were the final chances we had to make lasting memories, even if they were not the memories that we planned to make as freshmen,” said the National Honor Society member.

Aggarwal thanked many people who have supported her throughout her life and through an unprecedented time in her life. She thanked her friends for bringing out the best in her on her darkest days. She thanked her teachers for their influence and guidance. She thanked the parents of the volunteer group, “Class of 2021 Let’s Get it Done!” for their work in celebrating Lakeland’s seniors. She thanked and expressed her gratitude to her parents for their unconditional love and support.

“We are walking away with a shared experience, an experience that will continue to connect us as we journey through the various chapters of our lives,” said Aggarwal. Our shared experience, our memories, will be the source behind each word written in the history of these times, and through those memories, we will be immortalized.”

Aggarwal had a weighted GPA of 101.73 and never earned less than an “A” in any subject, including in her lauded science research work. She is interested in pursuing the area of chemistry

Meet Thomas a Tom Thumb Graduate – College Bound

Meet Thomas a Tom Thumb Graduate – College Bound

Tom Thumb Graduate College Bound

“Thank you, Nancy, for his preschool foundation. You are always in our thoughts and hearts. Thomas is now in his senior year of high school. He is getting ready to attend Dartmouth University in August 2019.” paraphrased from information provided by Thomas’ Mother.

 

Thomas in the Past, Present, and Striving for the Future

 

Thomas tom thumb graduate

Thomas a Tom Thumb Preschool Graduate – Class of 2006

thomas a tom thumb graduate

Brother, Mom & Thomas

thomas tom thumb graduate today

Thomas ready for college life, 2019

Please Join Us in Congratulating Thomas and Wishing him Continued Success in Making his Dreams Real!

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