Weatherly Area High School's Class of 2010 closed the book on one chapter of their lives Friday, but left their alma mater eager to see their stories continue to unfold.

As the class of 62 students moved through their graduation ceremony, a smaller group celebrated its 50th commencement anniversary: The Class of 1960 sat, gazing wistfully as they relived the memories of their own youth as they watched a new generation take its first tentative steps into a new world.That new class urged its members to cherish the past as they build their adult lives on the solid foundation of 12 years of nurturing.Co-Salutatorian Amanda Susan Migneco observed that some things in life remain constant in the midst of change."It seems like only yesterday I was waiting for the bus on my first day of kindergarten, with my Barbie lunch box and my matching Barbie backpack. My parents were there right behind me, smiling, crying, waving and taking pictures. When I got to school, all of my friends were there, especially my three best friends at the time, Christina, Jared and Jenette," she said."Looking out into the audience, it doesn't seem like much has changed. If you can spot my parents out there, they are probably smiling, crying, waving and taking pictures. Without even looking, I can tell you that Christina, Jared and Jenette are in the audience, probably just as excited as I am to start the rest of our lives. The only difference is that I left my Barbie backpack at home, and I think Jared left his Power Rangers at home, too," Migneco said.She spoke of the long journey through elementary, middle and high school, and of the confidence that, armed with the knowledge they have gained, the class would all go a lot further."Today, as we join with Mr. (school Superintendent Frank) Victor in moving our tassels from one side to the other, we will also be moving from one chapter of our lives to the next," Migneco said.Her Co-Salutatorian, and good friend, Jenette Marie Stadnik, also carried the literary theme."In many ways, a graduating class is like a book, a book with many authors and many different plot lines. We have our beginning, our end and our chapters in between. Our families, friends and teachers have protected us, sheltered us, guided us, acting as the hard cover keeping us in line," she said."The binding of this book, the backbone, represents our relationships with one another, relationships that were, at first, rigid, and caused the book to snap shut. But with time and familiarity, the book opened easily and the pages turned quickly," Stadnik said.Valedictorian Christina Janine Graham encouraged the class to open their hearts and minds to the endless possibilities that await them."Regardless of our destinations, we are all about to go on a journey of discovery, " she said. "On this journey, be active and go treasure-hunting."Graham referred to an "author-adventurer," Sy Montgomery, who had spoken at the school."She said that there are teachers everywhere. Not just in the classroom," Graham said. "And that some of these teachers might seem unusual or strange, but if you're always ready to learn, you won't miss an opportunity to find out something new. From my new teacher, I learned that being open-minded is half the battle, and if you are, you'll be pleasantly surprised."Weatherly alumnus Karen Gatlin, who graduated in 1974 and is now marking her 30th anniversary at a television station in Flint, Michigan. She urged students to see not only large successes, but also the small ones that may go unnoticed but have a big impact.Volunteering at a soup kitchen, tutoring students, giving a cancer patient a ride to a chemotherapy session - all may seem like small gestures, but their legacy will resonate in their communities, she said.