CAT Pickering Grads Celebrate Their Time

Family and friends packed the Donald J. Langley Auditorium at the Center for Arts and Technology (CAT) Pickering Campus Monday evening to honor the graduating class of 2011.

One hundred sixteen graduates smiled and proudly marched their way into the auditorium to the traditional "Pomp and Circumstance" march by Elgar, followed by graduate Ashley Mitchell leading everyone in a stirring and powerful rendition of the National Anthem.

Principal Debbie Noel welcomed the standing room only crowd. She admitted to everyone that the class of 2011 will “always have a special place in my heart," because they began at the school in 2007, the same year she began at CAT Pickering.

Noel also spoke proudly of the 51 graduates who participated in field classes.

"This is our time!" Class Valedictorian Robert Galland told his fellow graduates. “We persevered and stuck through it all over the four years,” said Galland. “CAT Pickering gave us an outlet for ... creativity.”

David Purdy, assistant principal, acknowledged students who achieved National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and Pennsylvania Skills Test Certificate. Those honored are listed below.

English teacher Lea Scott presented two $1,000 faculty scholarships to Joseph Smith and Eleanor Wanamaker, then listed the nominees for 2011 Student of the Year: Heather Colket; Ashley Gable; Michael Kiesling; Brandon Kostishak; Amy Magee; Amanda Pletcher; Joseph Smith; Kaitlin Walton; and Eleanor Wanamaker.

After being announced as student of the year, Wanamaker received a trophy and a gift card from Scott, prompting the crowd to erupt into cheers and undergraduates to shout out “Wawa” in encouragement for their friend.

During his speech, co-salutatorian Brandon Kostishak told the audience, “CAT Pickering made me into a well-rounded, focused young man.”  

“I did not like middle school and expected high school to be the same, but then I arrived [at] CAT Pickering and my life changed," co-salutatorian Joseph Smith said.

Richard Teifel, supervisor of career and technical programs, presented the class of 2011 as the graduates received their diplomas.

With his farewell message, Class President Bryan Walters said, "Some of you will be headed to college, the work force or the service, like me. I wish you all the best in whatever career or path you choose, but always remember your time here at CAT Pickering."

Walters then led the graduates in turning their tassels.

Students receiving honors:

National Honor Society students: Heather Colket, Robert Galland; Michael Kiesling; Amy Magee; Amanda Pletcher; Joseph Smith; Eleanor Wanamaker; and Courtney Yablon.

National Technical Honor Society students: Heather Colket; Stefan Ellis; Andrew Fromm; Robert Galland; Michael Kiesling; Brandon Kostishak; Amanda Pletcher; Cameron Robins; Joseph Smith; Kaitlin Walton; and Eleanor Wanamaker.

Pennsylvania Skills Test Certificate students:  Todd G. Antrim Jr; Matthew Aschendorf; Zachary Borntrager; Dylan Brown; William Butler; Kimberly Carreras; Heather Colket; Brittany Daily; Kevin Demarco; Stefan Ellis; Andrew Fromm; Robert Galland; Kasey Hemler; Thomas Herrick Jr; Shaneka Jones; Michael Kiesling; Michael Kocon; Brandon Kostishak; Amy Magee; Kathryn Manning; Brittany Miller; Daniel Miller; Ashley Mitchell; Antonio Ocasio; Peter Ottey; Ray Paski; Corbin Pettit; Ricardo Pimentel; Denisse Pimentel-Marquez; Mark Pires; Amanda Pletcher; Sabrina Pursel; Daniel Raichle; Cameron Robins; Kenneth Sebra; Joseph Smith; Ashley Spitko; Kiefer Stahl; Kara Sturges; James Sweetwood; Brittany Trego; LaMonica Turner; Alexis Vaszily; Jamie Veneski; Todd Wagner; Bryan Walters; Kaitlin Walton; Eleanor Wanamaker; Lindsey Watson; Paige Wilkins; and David Wilson