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Godmother Renee Wilson, Nicole Martinez (mother, in yellow), and Anthony Wilson (far right, also godfather) posed with Jeshanah Martinez, who graduated from Curtis High School on Wednesday evening at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook. Miss Martinez is one of the 485 graduates who did not get to walk across the stage to accept a diploma. Many parents and graduates were upset saying they were cheated out of a once-in-a-lifetime moment. (Staten Island Advance/Kiawana Rich).

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- It was not the once-in-a-lifetime event they expected.

Members of the Curtis High School Class of 2014 left their graduation ceremony Wednesday upset and angry because they were not allowed to go up on the stage to receive their prized diplomas.

Parents and students said the ceremony, held in the auditorium of the College of Staten Island, Willowbrook, was suddenly cut short. Instead of walking across the stage as their names were called and being handed their diplomas to the applause and cheers of family and friends, the 485 students were abruptly dismissed and sent home.

The ceremony, which started a half-hour late, had been going on for an hour and a half, according to parents. Some students said they didn't even realize what was happening. Teachers were preparing to go on stage when the principal, Aurelia Curtis, told the students the graduation had been recessed.

"I was crying. My friends were crying. We sat there for no reason. We all wanted to walk across the stage and hear our names called and get our diploma. We didn't get to walk across the stage, we didn't get a diploma," said a distressed Estrella Velez, 17, of Willowbrook.

The Advance fielded phone calls from disappointed students and angry parents who said their children and they were cheated out of this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Some parents and students believe that Ms. Curtis opted to end the ceremony because a few students were tossing around beach balls and were slightly disruptive at points during the ceremony. But there also were rumors that Curtis had only booked the CSI space for three hours, and because of too many long speeches, time ran out and the event had to be stopped.

Gloria Dominguez's younger sister, Jennifer Manzano, was one of the graduates. Her entire family was there -- including her brother, David Manzano, who had traveled from Japan to see his youngest sister graduate.

"We're all so disappointed," Ms. Dominguez said. "And my sister was devastated. It just isn't fair."

The 180-degree turn was a far cry from moments earlier, when Ms. Curtis was dancing and serenading the students to the tune of the Black Eyed Peas, "I Got A Feeling."

"I have a very strong sense of the capacity of this class. I have a feeling that this class gonna be a great class!" she sang to the graduates, before the sound system kicked in loudly, the music played and she started dancing.

The principal also became teary-eyed as she talked about her feeling for this particularly special class and their promise for the future.

"I encourage you to cherish the memories of Curtis High School. ... Remember why you came here and all that you learned here and all the contributions you made here," she said.

"There was no tassel turning, no nothing," said an angry Maureen Worona of Sunnyside, whose daughter Victoria, 17, was a graduate.

"My daughter's mad. She said, 'We don't even know if we graduated,' said Ms. Worona. "The kids were crying. It was ridiculous."

"She kept saying, 'This is my best year.' 'You are my best class,' and then she recesses us. I feel cheated," said Miss Velez.

Yolanda Sanchez said she and her daughter, Tiara Rengifo, 17, of Grasmere, also felt cheated.

"The parents look forward to the kids walking across the stage. This is a special moment you can't get back," she said.