Justice Sotomayor expresses gratitude to Yonkers at opening of Sotomayor school

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor was in Yonkers Sept. 16 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new school on bearing her name at 121 McLean Ave. The Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School is actually composed of two sections: a four-story academic building and a one-story community building. It was designed to house 675 students from Pre-K through 8th grade.

Designed by KG+D Architects based in Mount Kisco, the common areas are accessible for use during after school hours so the community can be served with activities in the cafeteria, kitchen, health clinic, and combination multipurpose room and gymnasium.

After participating in a ribbon-cutting event outside of the building, Justice Sotomayor, officials from the city and public school system and oher participants went inside for a ceremony that included participation by some of the school children.

In her remarks, Sotomayor told students that with a good education they can achieve whatever dreams they may have.

 “As a Supreme Court Justice, I have far exceeded any dream I had as a child. Few people can say that,” Sotomayor said. “I have lived more than my dreams. With this new school, Yonkers is giving you a foundation to do exactly the same thing. I wish for every child in the school the gift of knowing that you can dream big and that those dreams can come true. That is what equality in education offers.”

Sotomayor, who was born in 1954 in the Bronx, graduated in 1972 from Cardinal Spellman High School and attended Princeton University, had high praise for the City of Yonkers.

“Thank you for investing in the future of your city and in our nation,” Sotomayor said. “It is an investment that is priceless and I am so grateful for your city’s foresight. I cannot thank you enough for the honor you have given me.”