Grace Costenbader’s search to find what symbolized her classmates left her unfulfilled.

Costenbader didn’t have to look far to find the true power she sought at Palmerton’s graduation ceremony on Monday night.

“When I started thinking about what impactful message I wanted to share with our class, I did what any rational person does and went to YouTube,” the class valedictorian joked. “I watched countless videos, some that were funny, and others that were tear-jerkers, trying to find what would represent our amazing class.

“The truth is that I couldn’t. Our class is so unique and resilient that no other graduating Palmerton class or any high school class could compare.”

In a year unlike any other, this is a class that is nothing like any that have come before it.

The Class of 2020 has adapted to and embraced the challenges of a school year that was altered by the coronavirus pandemic earlier this spring, forcing students, their families and faculty members to adjust to a new normal.

It was only fitting that their graduation ceremony would be one of a kind, as cars poured into Pocono Raceway, ready to celebrate 127 graduates from Palmerton and nine from Carbon Career & Technical Institute with a well-deserved victory lap for the school’s 112th annual commencement.

“Today we stand, OK sit, here together as a testament to our hard work and dedication over the years,” said co-salutatorian Mikayla Wilkins. “Special shout out to SparkNotes and Quizlet for always having our backs. Yes, even the top of the class procrastinates. But hard work and dedication only scrape the surface of these past few months.

“To put it plainly, online learning has been absolute insanity. Honestly, I don’t know how the teachers were able to cram double the homework in less than half the classes. As much as I’m sure we’d all like to complain, it’s thrilling to know that we are currently living what future generations will only learn from a history book. Our kids may never fully understand why we stockpile 64 counts of toilet paper and keep hand sanitizer by the gallons.”

What is in the past now was an unknown just a few months ago. With perspective and time to reflect, those memories left a lasting impression.

“I believe this goes without saying that we’ve had a very rare year,” class president Mitchell Hourt said. “Unbeknown to us at the time, Friday, March 13 was the last time we were all together as a class. Halls went quiet, lockers awaited our return, time stood still and life as a senior changed forever.

“However, when presented with a problem, the great jazz pianist Duke Ellington says that a problem is a chance to do your best. We adapted and overcame against all odds. We are here together, fully prepared to graduate.”

As Palmerton’s seniors strived to make the most of the circumstances, so too did those around them.

“You also got to witness the true meaning of family and community,” said high school Principal Paula Husar. “The town really stepped up to make the best of a bad situation. We saw an Adopt a Senior program; we saw a Sponsor a Senior program come together. People did these things for you.

“As students, you began getting cards, gifts, as people wanted to do something to show that they were thinking of you, to make you realize you had not been forgotten. Everyone wanted to step up, and everyone wanted to get involved.”

It’s in these times of change that the Class of 2020 can look back on its accomplishments and experiences with confidence as it prepares for what lies ahead.

“This has not been an easy year, but the power that this class, and this generation holds, is something special,” said co-salutatorian Erica Messics. “We believe in justice, and we believe in our power to shape our future. Each and every one of us has a voice, and we all have used it with pride and integrity.

“Together, as our future unfolds, let’s use our strong and powerful voices to create positive change within our community, within our country and most importantly, within each other.”

While the rest is still unwritten, the Class of 2020 can now close the book on an unforgettable - and unprecedented - chapter in their lives,

“Moving forward, let us treasure all of the memories we shared, laugh about all the trouble we rumbled, and remember our strength during these tough times,” Costenbader said. “Our endurance will not be forgotten, as well as these incredibly strong bonds we’ve created throughout our life.”