While the New York Knicks celebrate their 2026 NBA Championship victory, 12-year-old Sebastian Crosa will be in class preparing for state Regents exams instead of witnessing the team’s ticker-tape parade. The seventh-grader, a devoted Knicks fan, launched a Change.org petition urging officials to close schools on June 18 to allow students and educators to attend the event along Broadway’s Canyon of Heroes.
The parade, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. near Battery Park and conclude at City Hall, will honor players including Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Hart. Despite the historic win, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that schools and Regents exams will proceed as planned, emphasizing the importance of academic preparation for students.
Crosa, whose petition has garnered over 3,100 signatures, expressed disappointment at being barred from the celebration. His mother, Colleen, a clinical psychologist, highlighted the significance of the moment, stating that students deserve to experience such a unifying event after years of challenges. “This is a historical moment of joy, unity, and perseverance,” she said.
Other educators and parents echoed similar sentiments. Teacher Laverne Mickens encouraged skipping responsibilities, calling the parade a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” that outweighs academic obligations. Meanwhile, preschool administrator Molly Vozick-Levinson criticized the scheduling conflict, acknowledging her own plans to leave work early to attend.
Students will remain in classrooms during the parade, as the Regents exams—required for high school graduation—are already set. Crosa acknowledged the slim chances of rescheduling but emphasized the broader community’s desire to celebrate the Knicks’ long-awaited triumph.