DUNMORE - At Wednesday's graduation ceremony, Dunmore High School's class valedictorian challenged his fellow 105 graduates to make their mark.
"The class of 2013 can change the world," Benjamin Pacifico said. "Whether in a big or small way, we can do it. ... With hard work and dedication, we can achieve anything we want."
Addressing a sea of students dressed in the school colors - the boys in royal blue robes and the girls in crimson - salutatorian Aileen Walsh similarly had high expectations for her classmates.
"The future is ours," the salutatorian told her peers. "We just have to believe in ourselves."
Student body President Griffin Gerchman and senior class President Matthew Clark, the youngest sibling among eight Dunmore graduates, drew laughs as they reflected on the class of 2013's shared experiences. Those memories ranged from playground marriages at Dunmore Elementary Center to senior class trips.
Before students got their diplomas, 1992 Dunmore graduate Thomas Dempsey, the head basketball coach at Binghamton University, told the graduates to always remember where they came from and the people who helped them, choose the people with whom they surround themselves wisely, work hard and not look for shortcuts and know what they want.
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Graduates are
Monica Valeria Aguilar, Devante Anthony Alimena, Amanda Lynn Badalamente, Marisa Noel Barone, Nicole Julia Beavers, Joseph Sante Bellucci, Michael John Best, Jr., Danielle Nicole Bistran, Michael Lawrence Boland, Ian Peter Boni, Shealyn Kelly Bonin, John Brian Buntz, Molly Brigitte Burke, Nicholas Robert Bush, Thomas Jerome Carden, Gabrielle Aria Cecci, David Patrick Ciprian, Matthew Brian Clark, James Michael Cole, Vivian Lee Cooper, Amber Marie Delhagen, Nicholas Paul DeLuccie, Andrea Madelon DelVecchio, Lia Marie DeMarco, Janine Marie Dobson, Alexandra Julia Dunda, Kathleen Bridget Ehnot, Brittany Nicole Elmy, Leyna Jenay Faundez, Alison Marie Catherine Fazio, Emily Beth Finnerty, Matthew Isaac Fisk, Noah Charles Fosnot, Marissa Nicole Francis, Jessica Lynn Frick, Kelsey Elizabeth Gavern, Alec Raymond Gerchman, Griffin Charles Gerchman, John David George Glinsky, Jr., John Gerald Golosky, Aimee Marie Hall, Kelcey Alicia Hallinan, Kaylee Marie Harrity, Raymond Paul Hillier, Jr., Kimberlee Mae Hrywnak, Cory Edward Jones, William John Keating, Angela Nazarena Kelly, Gina Anne Kelly, Cheyenne Michelle Kersavage, Evan Joseph Killeen, Kevin David Klatt, Jr., Katlyn Joan Knebl, Michael Ryan Kolcharno, Kaitlin Rose Kordish, Jacob Alexander Korgeski, Saul Patrick Langan, Ryley Kathleen Leach, Gavin David Lindemuth, Maegan Lee MacClean, Morgan Patricia McCool, John Joseph McDonough, Jonathan Angelo Mecca, Kevin Robert Mee, Brittnee Marie Mikulski, Dalton Colby Miller, Ryan Patrick Miller, Dennis Henry Mundt, Brandon Joseph Murray, Rachel Elizabeth Myerski, Ian Michael Nazar, John Salvatore Occhipinti, Matthew Anthony O'Connor, Morgan Elizabeth Okonski, Benjamin Joseph Pacifico, Courtnie Paige Perri, Kallista Marie Pluciennik, Nicole Anne Pizzola, Gianna Isabella Ragnacci, Brianna Frances Reese, Nicole Eileen Revta, Maximiliano Robert Riccio, John Robert Rinaldi, Angelica Patricia Rojas, Sarah Margaret Rosar, Casey Rose Ruddy, Gabrielle Christina Santarsiero, Sandra Margaret Santarsiero, Shala Ann Sardo, Austin Eugene Seamon, Eric Thomas Sekelski, Brittnee Lynn Smith, Jessica Lauren Smith, John Anthony Speicher, Eric Blaise Stivala, Corey Scott Sullivan, Riley Sean Sullivan, Jordan Michael Sweeney, Nathan Benjamin Terelmes, Jaclyn Marie Teufert, Jayden Torres, Grace Ann Valenzano, Aileen Haggerty Walsh, Kaitlyn Marie Wilga, Elizabeth Marie Wilk and Jessica Shirley Nicole Williams.Valedictorian: Benjamin Pacifico
Parents: Anthony and Carol Pacifico
Clubs and Activities: National Honor Society; captain of Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit Scholastic Scrimmage, Spanish club, brass captain of the marching band, member of the jazz and concert bands, audio chief of drama club, engineering club, technology club
Post-graduation plans: Attend Penn State University, main campus, to major in computer engineering
Salutatorian: Aileen Walsh
Parents: Michael Walsh and Amy Mifka
Clubs and Activities: National Honor Society, senior class recording secretary, varsity football cheerleader, soccer, vice president of Spanish club, president of Earth club, French, Students Against Destructive Decisisions, Teens Against Consuming Tobacco, Friends of Rachel Club, art club, health careers club, yearbook club
Post-graduation plans: Attend Penn State University, main campus, to major in biology