FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — There was an overwhelming amount of “Spartan Pride” present Thursday as 139 members of the Class of 2016 received their diplomas to enter the new stage in their lives.
Commencement was held at Ghosh Orthodontics Field in Spartan Stadium, with the procession of the seniors bringing pride to hundreds of spectators who were family and friends of the graduates.
Students, faculty and administration gathered in the high school lobby and cafeteria to prepare, then walked to the stadium, partially walked around it and entered the grassy field in the center where the ceremonies were held as the North Schuylkill Marching Band played. The national anthem was led by members of the Senior Chorus, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Rev. Jonathan Hall, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Frackville, gave the invocation. Hall also offered the benediction at the close of commencement.
Class co-advisers Michael Evans, Ty Wartman and C. Nicholas Brayford introduced the class representatives, after which Valedictorian Logan Bell, Salutatorian Abigail Peleschak, National Honor Society President Bryel Frasch and Student Council President Kali Antalosky gave their speeches.
At the podium, Bell spoke of “the physics of life,” the patterns in one’s life.
“As many people know, the school year brought an abundance of memorable goals and slogans,” Bell said. “In 2016, we went ‘the extra degree’ past 211 to reach 212 — greater than the boiling point of water. In 2016, we received a state testing score of 82.9, placing us at the top of the county. In 2016, we pledged to be ‘greater than’ 82.9 and to reach our full potential.
“Although they were introduced this year, these slogans and goal first took effect six years ago, when our class made the daunting conversion from elementary school to junior high. Whether it is a crystal clear memory or a total blur depends on the individual, but I have noticed some distinct patterns in the way life treats us and the way we treat others in return. I call these patterns ‘the physics of life.’ ”
Bell later said, “What draws people’s attention the most? Opposites attract, so the answer is negativity. Why do positive people actively seek out dramatic and violent media? The truth is we are naturally drawn to tragedy and conflict; By seeing others struggle, our own lives seem more positive by comparison. You might deny it, but think about the ratio of optimistic news stories to pessimistic ones. You might say that you prefer the positive ones, but do you really pay them as much attention as you should? As we encounter people and events, we tend to remember the ones that hurt us rather than the ones that made us happy. If we surround ourselves with positivity, we will soon be felling the effects of the charge ... Now is the most time we will ever have again, so meet each day with a positive charge.”
In her salutatorian speech, Peleschak compared her fellow graduates to “the tiger lilies.”
“Tiger lilies are exotic, beautiful, unique flowers. The Class of 2016 are the tiger lilies of Schuylkill County because we are 141 unique individuals who are following pathways of success to secondary institutions, the military and the workforce,” Peleschak said. “Although we are tiger lilies now, we would not be anything if it were not for Schuylkill County, North Schuylkill, our families and our teachers.”
Peleschak identified the county as the soil, North Schuylkill as roots, parents as the water and the teachers as sunlight in the growth of the flowers that the class members have become.
“Without Schuylkill County, North Schuylkill, our parents or our teachers, we would not be graduating here today,” Peleschak said. “I would like to sincerely thank all of the people that have positively impacted our lives to make us the bright students, soon to be alumni, that we are today. A special thank you to my Mom, Dad, Liz, Baba, Aunt Jenn, Uncle Red, and all of my family and friends for molding me into the young lady I am today. Thank you to all of my teachers and the administration for working hard to ensure that I have received the best education possible.”
Frasch’s presentation was a “once upon a time” story that told of three elementary schools in the county — Ashland, Frackville and Ringtown — that eventually became one in the land of Fountain Springs, creating new friends and new bonds and a new adventure.
“The new bonds created were quickly tested when the group experienced their first obstacle,” Frasch said. “The kind of North Schuylkill Elementary separated them into Team A and Team B in the fifth grade. Evenly divided, each team has their own set of classes, teachers, and, again, way of life. The cruel separation seemed nearly impossible to survive, but the group heroically continued, not wallowing in the sorrows of lost companions, but instead slaying the dragons of schoolwork and hall time with new friends and new outlooks.”
As the class made its way through the elementary building, it eventually had to move on to seventh grade in the junior-senior high school building.
“High school tested the class’ new-found strength with many, many contests of bravery,” Frasch said. “Not only were they guinea pigs for the seventh and eighth grade hallway, but they were also subject to literal construction zones in the entire school, numerous staff changes (Mr. Roseberry and Dr. Ackell), a real fire, and a flood. The class was hit hard, put through hell and high water to get to the end of their quest — graduation day.”
Antalosky said the time of graduation was “the moment.”
“As an exceedingly emotional, sentimental teenage girl, one who would definitely win the superlative of ‛Biggest Emotional Mess’ if offered, I spent a great deal of time planning this speech, trying to find the right kind of sappy, moving words that you can all hold onto for the rest of your lives,” Antalosky said. “I spent multiple nights with tears on my keyboard, faced with writer’s block and nostalgic memories of my senior year flooding my brain. Eventually, I decided that instead of talking about the past, or even the future, which is probably what’s expected, I want to talk about this very moment, the present. Living in the moment is something that is sometimes hard to grasp because we are constantly thinking about what we are going to do next. Even though we are living physically in this very moment, nearly all of our thoughts revolve around the past or the future. Let us change that tonight. Right now, the essence of the evening is surrounding you and I encourage each and every one of you to let it consume your entire being until you become present in the beauty of which we call today. I challenge everyone here to be as present in the moment as possible. As you sit here, listen, think and be mindful.”
After the speeches, high school Principal Ken O. Roseberry presented the Class of 2016 for graduation, which was accepted by Superintendent Dr. Robert J. Ackell.
As each graduate’s name was called by Wartman, they accepted their diploma from school board President Charles J. “Chaz” Hepler.
Senior Class President Liam Wolfe passed the mantle to junior class President Robert Flannery.
After the singing of the “Alma Mater” and benediction, there was a fireworks display to finish the evening.
In addition to Bell, Peleschak, Frasch and Wolfe, the Top 10 seniors are Jadyn Anczarski, Michelle Gronski, Kelly Damiter, Rachel Bell, Jake Antalosky and Keisey Burns.
Other class officers are Antalosky, vice president; Alex Mazur, treasurer; Cory Sanko, secretary; and Jordan Marlow, historian.