TN Correspondent

editor@tnonline.comThe 124th Annual Commencement of the Weatherly Area High School was held in the Middle School gymnasium filled with parents, family members, and friends on Friday evening.After the graduating Class of 2012 entered to the fanfare and processional, the program began with the singing of "The Star Spangled Banner" by Mrs. Rebekah McFadden.Weatherly Area High School Principal Stu Tripler and Thomas McLaughlin, school superintendent, gave the opening remarks.Valedictorian Alicia Marie Panzarella then addressed her fellow classmates. She said while reading Water for Elephants, one quote stood out: 'Age is a terrible thief.'"I replayed this one line over and over in my head and I realize I never thought of age in this way," she said. "The list of things that age takes away just kept getting longer the more I thought about it."I realized there's one thing that age never takes and always gives and that's memories. We make memories that last a lifetime, and with confidence I can say that each member of this graduating class will be talking about these last 13 years for the rest of their lives."I think every parent would agree that walking your child to the bus stop on the first day of kindergarten is one of the most memorable moments of life. I know it was for me because I still remember walking to the bus with my mom and dad."Panzarella said that this is the last time they would be together as a class."Each of us will take a step into the future and make our way in life, but no matter how far away we are from each other or how much time passes, our memories will always bind us together," she said.Dr. James H. Lauer, MD, guest speaker for the evening and a 1976 Weatherly High School graduate, told the students that "although graduation is the end of your high school career, it is also the beginning - it is the commencement of the next stage in your life."He said it's now time to change focus and aim for a new set of goals."I've seen people with absolutely no goals in life," he cautioned. "They are content to sit back and let the world come to them. Do not allow yourselves to become one of these people."He then quoted Michelangelo who said, "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.""Success in life is rooted in serving others.," he added. "Truly successful people do not focus selfishly on themselves. Successful people see their true purpose from the standpoint of how it benefits others as well as themselves."You know, after graduation, I couldn't wait to get out of here. I ran out this door and never looked back. However, I realized that everything I am today is a result of the first 18 years of my l spent here."In finishing his address, Dr. Lauer said: "I am who I am today because of my family, because of this community, because of this school. No matter where you go from here, never forget where you came from !"Following that, the WAHS Alumni Association Scholarship was presented to Matthew John Caccese by Mrs. Celine Gerhart of the Weatherly Area High School Alumni Association.Diplomas were then presented by John Toft, Jr., president of the Weatherly Area School Board and school Superintendent McLaughlin.Delivering the Graduation Acknowledgement was Class of 2012 President Karlee Ursta who noted to her classmates "the people in this room have made me who I am; friends and teachers and families and bandmates and teammates and especially classmates.""I want to remind my class never to fear adventure," she said. "Home will always be here - your opportunities will not. The people in this room will never let you fall, so let that allow you to leap as far as your courage will let you."At the conclusion of the program, the audience, and the high school band and chorus sang the school's Alma Mater, followed by the recessional music played by the Weatherly High School Band.Members of the 2012 graduating class of Weatherly Area High School are : Raven Marie Anthony, Sushant Arya, Nicole Marie Bachart, Carl J. Bittner, Jacklyn Marie Blew, Michael Paul Bray, Tiffany Nichole Burger, Matthew John Caccese, Matthew Stephen Cullen, Cindi Jean Cunnius, Amanda Elaine David, Brandon Patrick Dennis, Andrea Jean Dietrich, Cheyenne Harley Dolinsky, Sarah Michelle Dolinsky, Jaime Anne Dougherty, Lauren Mae Douglas and Derek John FilloyAlso, Tracy Galada, Tiana Rose Genetti, Cody Wesley Gerhard, Dominic Anthony Giordano, Crystal Nicole Hoffman, Erin Marie Hollingsworth, Christopher James Hunt, Oleh Krupko, Christopher Michael Lafey, Brandon John Lindemuth, Andrew Alan Lovett, Shawn Michael McKee, Alyssa Lynn Miller, Kristen Rose Miller, Rebecca Lee Moyer, Shawn Thomas Oliver, Erica Elizabeth Paluch, Alicia Marie Panzarella, Brittany Pierce, Douglas Paul Pierno, Devon Jacob Rakofski, Lucas Arnold Rinker, Kristina Marie Sanfilippo, Dillon Jeffrey Sernak, Ann Marie Shevlin, Renard J. Tabron, Karlee Sue Ursta, Samson Zachary Walton, Toni Rae Weaver, and Zackery Tyler Young.