More than 230 seniors graduated from West Scranton High School at a commencement ceremony Tuesday held in a packed high school auditorium, with girls marching in white uniforms and boys in blue, many of them sporting golden tassels and sashes.
The class of 2013 applauded loudly for 16 in their ranks who will join the military after graduation, along with 147 students who will pursue some sort of secondary education.
Superintendent Bill King said there are three things that will be the key to success for the graduates as they embark in secondary educations, work or the military.
Passion, respect and remembering their family and friends - together with the education and support system they've built at West Scranton High School - will aid in their success.
"You will lead fulfilled lives," Mr. Kings said.
Student speakers reflected on a strong sense of community and pride in the school building itself, as well as administrators and teachers who helped them along the way.
Valedictorian Michael Gilbride said he loved every person up on stage with him, recalling his first day of kindergarten and drawing laughs from the crowds as he listed off memories from his years of schooling.
"I wouldn't want to undertake this journey anywhere else but West Scranton," he said.
Class President Kelsey Maconeghy put it simply, echoing the sentiments of the students she represented this year.
"We will forever call West Scranton High School our home. We will forever be Invaders," she said.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter
the Class of 2013
James Abbott, Luke James Abbott, Melody Ammenhauser, Romina Araujo, Glorymarie Arroyo, Taneka R. Barnaby, Barrett Justin Christopher, John Mitchell Barrett, Aaron Stephen Bates, Katlynn Noelle Battenberg, Stephen Joseph Bendowski, Russell C. Benke, Rhys Allen Bevan, Morgan Ashley Binder, Alexandra Bolsar, Brandon Charles Bombar, Tyler John Bonafede, Marquis Nasir Brownlee, Stephen Michael Bryan, Joshua Bullaro, Matthew Joseph Burke, Derek John Cadwalder, Chelsey Marykay Caldwell, Heather Marie Campbell, Cheyenne Arnelle Caple, Michael Patrick Cawley Jr., Christopher Joseph Chandler, Quanique Ashley Cheathem, Eric Joseph Chesek, Joshua Robert Chrisman, Brittany Lynn Christiano, Samantha Marie Clark, Seth Daniel Clark, James Robert Cochrane, Brandon Cocozello, Megan May Colletti, Taylor Marie Conforti, Christopher Michael Cook, Marion Coyne, Leslie Diana Crandall, Cory James Cunningham, Erika Davis, James Ronald Davis, Morgan Kristine Decker, Shannon Alexandra Dermont, Joseph Eugene Devine, Ruby Alexandra Devine, Thomas Joseph Duff, Colin James Duffy, Evelyn Ann Dumback, Eric George Edmondson, Michael Christopher Errico, Amanda Nichole Evans, Ian Robert Evans, Kara Marie Fahey, Jessica Fisher, Rachel Elizabeth Fitz, Emily Ann Flatt, Ryan Steven Fletcher, Scott A Fletcher, Briana Marie Franza, Felicia Marie Fulton, Demitris O. Garcia, Tyler David Gatto, Meghan Marie Gaughan, Andre' Williams Genova, Matthew James George, Patrick Joseph Gerrity, Gregory John Gianacopoulos, Michael Paul Gilbride, Kaitlyn Michele Gildea, Bridget Nadine Gilgallon, Amanda Gingerlowski, Joseph Godino Jr., Carina J. Gonzalez, Magdalen Nichol Gonzales, Kimberly Lynn Graham, Jamie Allen Gries, Kassandra Lynn Griffin, Jorge R. Guevara, Nathaniel Lee Gunderman, Lyssa Erin Guse, Declan James Haggerty, Michael Robert Hales Jr., Adam Robert Hammer, Daniel David Harrington, Kierra Olivia Harris, Thomas Harris IV, Edward George Harty, Brittny Hazleton, Rebecca Maureen Hein, Elyssa Ann Hercules, Nicole Holley, Samantha Marie Howey, Jordan Micheal Hughes, Joshua S. Hughes, Nora Ann Hurchick, David E. Irving, Thomas Scott Irwin Jr., Fatima Luv Isaac, Elijah David Jackson, Keishana Monique Jackson, Zachary Michael Jacobson, Alyssa Jessica Janes, Daienaria Jankowski, Mark Johnson, Dominique C Jordan, Emily Lynn Kanetski, Randall Joseph Kasorek Jr., Erin Ryan Lawless, Dominic Patrick Lee, Taylor Marie Lee, Zachary Christopher Lee, Shane J. Legg, Richard J. Loscombe, Kain Loureiro, Christian Angel Luciano, Justin Aaron Luciano, Michelle Carmella Lyles, Zoe Lyons, Thomas J. MacDonald, India Sharree Macklin, Kelsey Ann Maconeghy, Brianna Deborah Maher, Richard Majorino, Randy Maldonado, Abigail Olivia Mancus, Nicholas Mapp, Mark Nicholas Marinchak, Felix David Marrero, Kyle James Marsland, Austin John Martinelli, Alex B. Matay, Maura Ann Maxion, Robert Joseph McAllister, Marie Anne McAndrew, Darren James McDonough-Weber, Jana Marie McTiernan, Shayla Emma McMillan, Liz Marie Mercado, Timothy Joseph Merkel Jr., Francis John Merrifield, Tyler Terrance Merrigan, Kyle J. Messenger, Kayla Michaely, Sha'nyce Nikita Miles, Naeem "Duke" Miller, Gerard V. Morgan, Richard Morgan Morrison, Wesley Avent Murfree, Mark Robert Murphy Jr., Patrick Shane Murphy Jr., Tarshae Emoni Neal, Jamie Elizabeth Niemiec, Erika E. Nolan, Cassandra Marguerite Novak, Jorge L. Ocasio, Samuel Robert Olecki, Brandon Oleski, Kyle Christopher O'Malley, Rikki Sixx Onhvandy, Guadalupe Paramo, Alexis Renee' Parker, Bryan Andrew Patchoski, Shreya Patel, Natasha Perez, Matthew James Perry, Shayla M. Petroziello, Jessica Purawic, Michelle Ramirez, Zemary Yvette Reyes, Aaron James Riley, Edward T. Roach Jr., Tiffany Lynn Roman, Ricardo Rosa, Calynda L. Rowlands, Joshua Chiristopher Russell, Adriana Nicole Sa'ez, Tiffany Elizabeth Salmons, Shannon Michelle Sangster, Alejandro Robert Santiago, Frank Steven Sawkulich III, Davina Marie Sciartilli, Chelsea Schultz, Kaylyn Marie Schmidt, Kasey Jean Schraner, Alec Justin Scott, Danielle Catherine Sedawie, James Seguin, Kayla Courtney Seymour, Silas Terence Sheridan, Eva Lynn Sierra, Morgan Aris Smith, Brandon Sodani, Michael J. Sofka, Leonard William Stempowski III, Monica Jean Stevens, Nina Cassandra Stivala, Molly Ailish Stone, Nicholas Adam Strasburger, Joelle Louise Sweeney, Ryan Temsamrit, Sara Elizabeth Tesluk, Alyssa Michele Thomas, Janeesha Alternice Thomas, Anna Marie Torres-Cruz, Madina Asia Tucker, Jocelyn Valencia, Jacqueline Louise VanSickle, Lesley Mireya Vaquero, Carissa Velez, Cindy Ann VanValen, Stephanie Rita Walker, John Waltman, Gina Marie Wassell, Jeremy Scott Wassil, Ryan Patrick Welsh, Ann Elizabeth White, Patrick James White, Ashley Luree Whitehouse, Alexis Williams, Katelyn Kristen Williams, Tyler Wirth, Christopher Nelson Wood, Joshua Wyatt, Elizabeth N. Yavorski, Christopher John Young and Kaitlyn Lula Ziegler.Valedictorian Michael Gilbride
Parents: Robert and Diane Gilbride
Clubs/activities: Scholastic Bowl, National Honor Society and president of student council
Plans: Attend the University of Scranton
Salutatorian Tyler Gatto
Parents: David and Marion Gatto
Clubs/activities: Varsity baseball, National Honor Society, treasurer of the student council
Plans: Attend Penn State, University Park campus