TUNKHANNOCK — For the 182 members of the graduating class of 2015 at Tunkhannock Area High School, Saturday was a day not only to celebrate accomplishments together, but also to look forward to what they would do after they parted.
Valedictorian Erin Rome reminded the class that even though this was a time of parting from friends and traditions created over a lifetime, it was not a time to be sad.
Erin said that two weeks ago, when the last song came on during the prom, the class formed a giant group hug and held hands in the air.
“This was the first time many of us realized our time at Tunkhannock Area really was coming to an end,” she said. “Teary-eyed, with a bittersweet happiness, we all tried to grasp and hold on to the song and each other one final time.
“If you are not satisfied with your life, it is the perfect opportunity during this transition to change,” Erin said. “Always remember who you are and where your journey began near this bend in the river, but do not be afraid to venture out of the pond and discover the bigger, better, awe-inspiring sea.”
“Being aware of the present is the key to feeling alive and exhilarated,” salutatorian Jill Patton said. “The most meaningful experiences don’t have to hold the most prestige.
“Our culture pushes us to attain greatness and reach for the stars,” but, she said, “Let’s not forget to appreciate the full happiness of each moment.
“The simple parts of the song are just as important as the melody,” Jill said.
Senior class adviser Lance Montross, who was the faculty keynote speaker, noted that community service is a trait that especially describes this class.
“You are a selfless group of individuals who always put others before yourselves,” Mr. Montross told the assembled students. “It’s your time, go create something great.”
Mr. Montross noted a tradition of selflessness extended back to their freshman year when they organized community cleanup days to help clear the devastation left in the wake of the 2011 flood.
Class President Molly Hampsey, who joined the district during her freshman year, said all of the students were about to experience the culture shock she received moving into a new school that was five times the size of her old school.
“You are your own problem,” Molly said, “but you’re also your solution.”
Superintendent Michael Healey encouraged the class not only to never stop dreaming, but to take a step toward one of their dreams every day.
“It’s the dreams that make us unique,” he said. “It’s the dreams that define who we are.”
To illustrate the extent of dreams that were present in the class, Mr. Healey had the students stand as he read through the opportunities that they were exploring in the future.
Students stood if they were going to college, beginning trade school, joining the military or entering an industry. By the end of the list, every student was standing.
Mr. Montross finished his speech before the crowd with a sentiment shared by the other teachers, and the parents in the audience. “I stand here with great pride,” he said, “I am certain you are prepared to cross the threshold into this big, crazy world.”
The graduates are: Adryana Jane Appleby, Brian Florey Beauchemin, Zachary Alan Beeman, Ashley A. Berlew, Amanda Kyle Blankenship, Brooke Lily Blankenship, Steven Michael Boyd, Nikki L. Bucciarelli, Karlie Marie Bulford, Lucas Dylan Burgess, Devin Zachary Byrnes, Seth Thomas Caines, Kory William Callum, Chance Lewis Carey, Kurtis Alan Carichner, Rylee Drian Carnright, Cory Ryan Case, Taylor Michael Case, Leila Sonta Marie Christofferson, Alexander Franklin Clark, Bernard D. Clark Jr., Elaina Marie Cognetti, Aidan Stephen Cronin, Brandon Lee Dailey, Alyssa Mary Daily, Katelynn Mae Darlin, Katherine L. Davis, Dakota Anthony Deininger, Richard Anthony DeMarchis, Bryan James DeRemer, Dustin Edward Dippre, Kayla A. Dobrinski, Chelsea Logan DonVito, Gerard Michael DonVito, Marco Dean Dougherty, Makayla Mae Drost, Cody Forrest Dunlap, Ashley Michele Dunn, Trevor Allen Dunning, Matthew Lawrence Dymond, Blair Marie Eaton, Ryan David Ell, Cody B. Fabiseski, Cody Joseph Faux, Renay Jean Faux, Summer Frantz, Shawn Michael Gallagher, Michaela Ann Garay, Dylan R. Grandinetti, Matthew Grebeck, Logan Fritz Green, Paige Cameron Gwyneth Greenley, Alysha Lee Gregory, Desirae Lin Gruszka, Felicia Marie Guiles, Molly M. Hampsey, Mykenda Reed Harvey, Jewel Nicole Hayward, Timothy Paul Heath, Anthony Howard Heise, Aubrey Ann Heise, Connor Anthony Hemme, Adam Seth Henning, Nicholas Brian-Timothy Heslin, Abbey Elizabeth Hirkey, Wendy Anne Hoover, Fawne Larae Hopfer, Krista Lee Hoskins, Catherine Vette Huhn, Aaron James Ide, Jessica Nicole Ide, Miryha Elizabeth Jarnagin, Brandon L. Jenks, Matthew James Keefer, Samuel Leon Kelly, Emily Paige King, Jordyn Michelle King, Daniel Glenn Kosty Jr., Terri Dianne Kovalick, Traci Marie Kromko, Ellen Marie Kuzma, Lindsey Nicole Kwiatkowski, Stephanie Lynn Lawrence, Mitchell T. MacDougall, Margaret Mary Faith Maloney, Samantha Marie Markovitz, Kayla Lee Martin, Anthony Joseph Marturano, Devin Shea Mason, Travis John McDermott, Michael Nicholas Mercurio, Kailyn Falon Mikula, Kaitlyn Olivia Mitchell, Ashley Jean Morgan, Christopher Anthony Morone, Malysses Monique Moy, Garry Ray Mussleman III, Shiv Naik, Matthew Clay Newberry II, Hayden Rebekah Nichols, Summer Marie Nolder, Katelyn Marie Osterhout, Sarah Kaye Passarelli, Vrajkumar P. Patel, Jill Loren Patton, Tara Lynn Patton, Thomas Joseph Pavlichko, Sabrina Elizabeth Peters, Morgan Elizabeth Phillip, Emma Eileen-Marie Pizzolanti, Joseph Nicholas Popiwchak, Blake Nicole Posten, Alex Elizabeth Prebola, Sarah Elizabeth Purdy, Megan Marie Quick, Aaron Robert Reeves, William Joseph Reidenbach, Jesse David Reinhardt, Keanyn Andre Richardson, Charles Lawrence Richter, Alex Jay Rigdon, Olivia Grace Romano, Jacqueline Rose Rombola, Erin Margaret Rome, Skyler Brooke Roote, Austin Raymond Rosengrant, Justine Catherine Rought, Ashley Nicole Rutcavage, Martin Michael Saporito, Miranda Dawn Schmidt, Sarah Ann Schork, Emily Marie Seaberg, Katherine Victoria Seaberg, Stefan Peter Sehne, Kaylee Mae Seward, Georgia May Sherry, Kayla Marie Kathleen Shotto, Daniel Frank Shurtleff, Brittany Marie Sickler, Jeffery Daniels Sickler, Jessie James Sickler, Lillian Louise Siglin, Cole James Simmers, Symantha Lyn Simmons, Kennedy Taylor Smales, Donald Evans Smith Jr., Jamie O’Brien Smith, Jessica Rose Sorokach, Brett Martin Stage, Eric Thomas Stamer, Brittany Ann Stempien, Justin Matthew Stonier, Shane David Straley, Garrett Michael Streeter, Elissa Mari Stretch, Zachary Erik Swilley, John Leonidas Tidball VI, Kasandra Mae Tilley, Alexis Nicole Tinna, Mya Helen Toczko, Jessica T. Tomsak, David Jon Trexler, K’Lisha La’Gale Turner, Kelcy Elizabeth Vandorick, Parker James VanGalder, Lucas Allen VerBeek, Erika Renae Wallace, Keith Robert Ward, Danielle Marie Weaver, Alison Rose Wetherbee, Mark Leonard Wiernusz, Aly
son Lynn Wilbur, Kristin Shelby Wilhelm, Alexander Dane Williams, Sean-Ryan Williams, Mitchell Leonard Winters, Nikki Lynn Winters, Jacob Scott Woodruff, Matthew Allan Wootten, Maegan Erin Wrubel, Austin Anthony Yanora, Gabriel Lucas Yerdon, Jessica Caroline Zackus and Alexander David Zelna.
Head of the class
Valedictorian: Erin Margaret Rome
Parents: Eric and Robin Rome
Activities: National Honor Society (VP), cross country, class steering committee, Friends of Rachel, piano
Plans after high school: Attend Lafayette College for chemical engineering
Salutatorian: Jill Loren
Patton
Parents: Lawrence and Nancy Patton
Activities: Newspaper (editor-in-chief), DAR good citizen, faith club, tennis
Plans after high school: Attend either King’s College or Wilkes University, to major in English and minor in women’s studies