ARCHBALD - The mantra of 'Cougar Pride' was repeated many times during Valley View High School's graduation ceremony Friday night, a slogan Principal Peter Chapla said can be encapsulated in three words: Courage. Commitment. Honor.
He challenged the almost 200 graduates to strive for those three things using the tools they've been given throughout their high school education, using those tools to remain lifelong learners and global travelers. Mr. Chapla also reassured graduates they'd always have a support system and network of friends back in the Midvalley.
"You can always come home when you want to. We'll be waiting here for you," he said.
Family, friends and supporters cheered wildly as the graduates walked across the high school gymnasium floor to receive their hard-earned diplomas - boys dressed in royal blue gowns and girls in white.
After walking out of Valley View and into the real world, Superintendent Donald Kanavy said the graduates would face challenges and adversity, but, once again they'd always have their extended family of Cougars to turn to.
"Lean on family and good friends," he said.
Graduates also heard from salutatorian Riley J. Carey and valedictorian Jillian Butkiewicz during the commencement.
Jillian put what she hoped for herself and her classmates simply after the end of the ceremony.
"Make the most of the time you have and live with no regrets," she said.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter
GRADUATES ARE
Paul Michael Altavilla, Corey Thomas Angeli, Nicholas Anthony Antenori, Elisha Antunes, Yochabel Moraes Antunes, Kyle Arens, Aishan N. Arter, Darnell J. Ashton, Rebecca Lyn Bailey, Tiara Marie Baldoni, John Ball, Sebastian T. Barchak, Cody Barrett, Wendy Gabriella Bellington, Francesca Ann Betti, Nino L. Biancarelli, Kate Bianchi, Alec Michael Bombar, Marjorie Gwendolyn Boone, Mike Anthony Brown, Joseph Patrick Burda, Caylie Marie Burdyn, Kevin Christopher Burke, Jillian Theresa Butkiewicz, Liam Robert Callejas, Alexis M. Capwell, Riley J. Carey, Shannon Elisabeth Carey, Anthony Robert Castellani, Emily Jean Castelli, Dylan Joseph Catapane, Nico George Cavalari, Amanda Mary Cestone, Gina V. Chieffallo, Kendra Lee Chludzinski, Mariah Katherine Cholko, Amanda Noelle Chorba, Michael Patrick Christ, Adam P. Christian, Michael A. Cipilewski, Ryan M. Cislo, Joshua Daniel Conaboy, Max Michael Cornell, Adam David Crimi, Justin K. Crinella, Shea Andrew Cross, Daniel A. DeLeo, Allie Eugena Delicati, Matthew Dennis Dodd, James Michael Dougherty, Edward M. Duffy, Michael Anthony Emmi, Kathleen Anne Evans, LeahBeth Evans, Amanda Faramelli, Kelly Farrell, Tyler James Ferguson, Amanda Catherine Ferraro, Brianna Finkler, Louis R. Fiorelli, Nicholas Anthony Frontino, Anthony David Galantini, Sean Patrick Gallagher, Andrew Anthony Garbarino, Nicholas Stephen Gasper, Gary Joseph Geldhof, Erica Catherine Gerichten, Joseph Andrew Giancini, Jonathan Paul Giello, Elizabeth Ann Gillow, Francesco Giordano, Alicia C. Giresi, James A. Gonsauls, Katrina L. Goodwin, Eric Gregory Gowat, Leigha Lee Grosvenor, Thomas C. Hamilton, Michael P. Harvey, Michael James Higgins, Dana Rose Hodorovich, Lily Katherine Holeva, Victoria Lynne Holeva, Infinity Marie Holland, Patrick John Houlihan, Edward J. Hughes, Melissa Kae Ives, Adam J. Iyoob, Eric Iyoob, Amanda Nicole Jacobino, Amber Marie Jadus, Carissa Lee James, Joshua R. Johnson, Aferdita Kabashi, Anthony Joseph Kenney, Adam David Kirkirt, Timothy W. Knowles, Brett Anthony Kolenda, Kristi Lynn Kopa, Kalene Ann Kosch, Kevin Loughlin Kozlowski, John R. Kranick, Paul Matthew Kraycer, Alexandra Krehel, Taylor Krisler, Alec Stanley Kucharski, Kathryn T. LaMagna, Alyssa Ashley Eileen Langenhop, Vanessa Catherine LaTorre, Kimberly D. Lavelle, Daniel Eric Joseph Lewis, Jamie M. Linde, Jessie Katrina Linde, Michael Zachary Liuzzo, Kyle C. Matthews, Megan Theresa Mauro, Timothy Joseph May, Jesse David Mayne, Cody McAndrew, Lauren Elizabeth McAndrew, Megan E. McCartney, Anna Maria McElroy, Bret Michael McGinty, Ernest Anthony Mengoni, Anthony M. Mifka, Thomas Martin Miraglia, Catherine Mitchell, Matthew Mondak, Alexandra Jane Mosher, Tyler James Motisko, Evan M. Muchisky, Samantha Ann Mulherin, Kelly Michelle Naylis, John Gary Nestor, Courtney Theresa Nolan, Stephen C. Novajosky, Cheyenne O'Dowd, Tressa C. Olek, Kara Ann Olenick, Brandon Patrick Ossont, Aaron James Panfini, RaeKwon Nashay Patrick, Larissa Ashley Patuk, Michael Joseph Patuk, Samuel Harley Peila, Brandon M. Petrisky, Joshua Karl Pfeiffenberger, Tyler J. Phillips, Ryan U. Phomnath, Breanne Elizabeth Pirino, Dylan Pollack, Kayla Powell, Zoë Miranda Pugh, Gregory Joseph Racavich, Timothy G. Richards, Antonio J. Rodio, Seth Anthony Romanovich, Sarah Gabrielle Rotell, Garrett Rupe, Shana Jeanette Santarelli, Alexis Ashley Scarell, Mario Sebastianelli, Lori Sedlak, Carolyn Grace Serio, CJ Sheposh, Kaylie Elizabeth Shygelski, Diana Louise Simmons, Stevie Ray Sinning, Robert Joseph Speicher, Matthew Joseph Staback, Edward John Sumski, Frank V. Swaha, Thomas R. Swift, Krystal Arianna Szerszen, Jeffrey James Tarby, Joel Thomas Tasker, Jaliza Terry, Emma Rose Thomson, Travis D. Troiani, Maura Lynn Turlip, Ashley Ann Turpack, Christopher Joseph Uhrin, Troy W. Uhrin, Kristy Vancosky, A.J. Veno, Brandi Elizabeth Vispi, James Douglas Walsh, Jessie Lee Walter, Elizabeth Christine Whitaker, Ashley Marie Williams, Christian Edward Williams, Robert Joseph Williams, William John Williams III, Jamie Wojciechowski, Lea Wojciechowski, Andrew W. Wren, Zack Anthony Wrightson, Garret R. Yagelski and Carly Young.Valedictorian Jillian Butkiewicz
Parents: Susan and Davide Tomaine
Awards and activities: Member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Spanish club, National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, junior varsity and varsity basketball team as well as the tennis team.
Plans: Jillian will attend Penn State University, University Park campus, to major in kinesiology with a minor in nutrition, after which she hopes to attend medical school to become a pediatrician.
Salutatorian Riley Carey
Parents: Donna and Robert Carey
Awards and activities: National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Spanish club, captain of the varsity soccer team where he was selected as a Division 1 All Star, and member of the track and field team.
Plans: Riley will attend the University of Scranton to major in physics, after which he hopes to work with renewable energy sources.