Penncrest Class of 2011 Dismissed for the Final Time

"Class dismissed," Penncrest High School Principal Richard Gregg said for the last time to the Class of 2011 at graduation.

The 329 students of the Class of 2011 donned their caps and gowns and enjoyed their Pomp and Circumstance at their graduation ceremony held at Villanova University Thursday night.

Keynote speaker, student Beau Vincent DiFiore said after the long, hard walk through high school, all of the students would take their final stroll across the stage to receive their diplomas.

"Think of each pace as a goal achieved, a hardship overcome or just a pleasant memory that will resinate long after you leave this place," DiFiore said.

He said the parents likely have seen the student’s growth the most as he recalled standing in his driveway for his first day of school picture before the start of 1st grade.

"That was 12 years ago," DiFiore said. "Twelve first day photos later, here we are. We’ll soon take a different photo, not one with a cool Blues Cools new backpack but one with a red diploma."

He said no matter what activity, sport or class project the students were involved in at some point the student body felt pride in the letters "PHS."

"Don’t forget the steps you took through the halls of Penncrest High School because they were the steps you took in preparation to find your own stride," DiFiore said.

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Before the ceremony, student Robbie Marsden said he is going to miss his friends and the football team the most after graduation.

"The football team was like one big family," he said. "If I didn’t have them I wouldn’t be here today."

Marsden is off to Dickinson University in the fall where he’ll continue his football career. He said he hopes to find the same family feel on their football team.

Salutatorian Rachel Hosier spoke to the crowd and said that for many the evening was bittersweet since they are moving on to bigger and better things but leaving behind friends and teachers they’ve come to depend on.

"The last 12 years of our lives have been leading up to this night and with some help along the way, we made it," Hosier said.

Hosier, who’s favorite time at Penncrest was competing on the Science Olympiad team, said the Class of 2011 is a diverse group, involved with music, theater, sports, community service and academics.

"Our paths might not have crossed very often over the last four years, but we will always have this in common…this night, these diplomas, this experience," Hosier said. "We will always be a member of the Penncrest High School Class of 2011."

She thanked the teachers, parents and the community for all their help in getting this class to where it is today. But she also thanked the class itself for always being there.

"It is the people in this class that have made the last four years awesome and I am genuinely proud to be a member of the Class of 2011," Hosier said.

Hosier will attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall on a scholarship she earned through Science Olympiad.

Before the ceremony, students Emily Roller and Maria Benedetti talked about their favorite memories from high school.

Roller, who will attend American University, said going to Disney World with the band and color guard and performing in the electric lights parade was a highlight and she’ll miss the "family feeling" she had in the color guard.

Benedetti, who will attend Catholic University, said being in the school musical and theater club were her favorite times at Penncrest and she hopes to continue her theatrical aspirations in college.

Valedictorian Anderson Beck spoke to the crowd and said there are many memories to take away from Penncrest.

"It doesn’t matter what our individual strengths are, each of us has some thing," he said. "Our opportunities are in front of us."

Beck, who will study engineering at Penn State Main Campus, said life after high school will give the class freedom to explore and find that "special strength," individually.

"Penncrest has been something special to us," he said. "However we put together our experience at Penncrest, we all made it. We’re all here together. We all contributed something to these four years."

Before the ceremony, friends Megan Powell, Brittany Higgins, Kelly Owens and Stephanie Baidokas talked about graduating and moving on.

"It doesn’t feel real," Higgins said. "It feels like we still have school tomorrow."

Powell, who will attend East Strousberg University on a field hockey scholarship, said she’ll miss the field hockey team the most since this year was the best season.

John D. Vairo, who’s grandson James Archambo was graduating, sat in the audience before the ceremony excited to see his grandson finish high school.

Archambo will attend Penn State Brandywine in the fall and it just so happens Vairo helped create and build Penn State Brandywine.

Vairo was teaching at Penn State Main Campus and was asked to come to the Delaware Valley and create a much-needed campus here many years ago.

"We opened with 36 students and 11 faculty," he said.

The library at Penn State Brandywine may be named after Vairo but he was sure not to influence the school or his grandson on attending his namesake.

Vairo said students need about six months to get used to college and "level out" but he had no doubt he’s grandson would do just fine.

After receiving their diplomas, shaking hands and throwing their caps in the air, the Class of 2011 was dismissed.