Wyoming Seminary graduates 114
KINGSTON - Be a Good Samaritan, and you'll make your part of the world a better place - no matter where it may be.
History teacher Brian Kaschak used the parable from the Gospel of Luke in his charge to the class of 2013 at Wyoming Seminary's 169th commencement ceremony Sunday afternoon.
The 114 graduates who received diplomas from Chairman of the Board of Trustees Richard M. Goldberg included students from 11 states and 13 other countries among their ranks.
Mr. Goldberg's daughter Leah, one of 11 graduates inducted by history teacher C.J. Kersey into the Wyoming Chapter of the Cum Laude Society, introduced Mr. Kaschak as someone dedicated to teaching, coaching and "simply knowing each one of us."
Mr. Kaschak noted that the Good Samaritan "did not expect any reward or accolades for his behavior; he did not require reimbursement for the expense of his charitable deeds; he did not help his fellow human being to fulfill a community service requirement or to boost his resume."
"Whatever else you do in life, if you try to be Good Samaritans, that is to say, if you try to consider everyone you encounter your neighbor, if you try to empathize with them and engage them with compassion, humility and love, you will make your small corner of the world, wherever it may be, a better place," Mr. Kaschak said.
"Indeed, you will have done something meaningful and consequential with your lives."
Spencer Norris of Dallas noted in his humorous address to his classmates that "There's one mistake that Sem has actually encouraged us to make again and again. The mistake ⦠is to care too much."
Calling on her fellow graduates to thank their teachers - who not only worked with them through their long school days, but unofficially adopted them into their families, Caroline Reppert of Kingston delivered the farewell address.
The conclusion of Wyoming Seminary's 169th academic year was declared by President Kip Nygren with the ringing of the Cokesbury Bell by junior Nada Bader of Mountaintop. It was the last time the bell will be rung 16 times, one for each decade of the school's existence. Next year it will be tolled 17 times to mark the 170th anniversary.
Members of the Class of 2013 from the Greater Scranton Area include:
Udai Aulakh, Waverly; Skylar Banul, Pittston; Mary Siobhan Brier, Scranton; Jessica CasterÂline, Exeter; Lauren Golden, Dupont; Devin Holmes, Fleetville; Joelene Joinvil, Scranton; Scott Kwiatek, Lake Ariel; Katherine Maximov, Lake Ariel; Dakota Pace, Lake Ariel; Amanda Stella, Pittston.
Contact the writer: eskrapits@citizensvoice.com