One hundred seventy-three students became graduates of Bradford Area High School during its 144th commencement exercises held Thursday evening.
The Bradford Area High School Class of 2024 arrives at commencement.
Welcoming everyone, Principal David Ray said, “While many things have changed in the world since the graduation of the class of 1880, we continue to gather each spring in this time-honored ceremony to celebrate a milestone in the lives of these young people of our community.
“I’m honored that you are here tonight to celebrate these events with us. This is an extremely proud night for our graduates and their families.”
Eliana Kane gave the welcome address, recalling that, “1,375 days ago, we walked through the auditorium doors of our very own Bradford Area High School. We’ve always talked about this day — graduation — since day one.”
Eliana Kane delivers the welcome address.
She shared the respect gained for their teachers and the admiration for their families, who brought the class through those 1,375 days, “not knowing that 4 years later we wouldn’t be the same people as we are walking out (today). In that short time, so much has changed and so many stories were written.”
Kalie Dixon gave the class address.
“I have grown up with my classmates since we were at (George G. Blaisdell Elementary School); we have shared so many experiences together so many times along the way, it’s difficult for me to think about how our journey together is coming to an end,” Dixon said.
She acknowledged many of her classmates couldn’t wait to graduate and move on, but cautioned against focusing too much on the future and missing the present opportunities.
“BHS provides so many of them, whether it’s our Career and Tech programs, sports teams, clubs, manufacturing or volunteering. There is something for everyone here,” she said.
Leaving her class with one piece of advice, Dixon said, “overuse kindness.”
Jason Little, attorney and member of the BHS Class of 1998, gave the commencement address. At Bradford High, he was a multisport athlete and three-time District 9 wrestling champion. He wrestled for Clarion’s Division I team while earning his bachelor’s in political science. He completed his juris doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School in 2006. He practices in New York and Pennsylvania with the Long Island-based firm Farrell Fritz.
Many of his family members still reside in Bradford, and he acknowledged his niece, Kelcie Little, with the class of ’24.
Jason Little, attorney and member of the Bradford Area High School Class of 1998, delivers the commencement address to the Owls’ Class of 2024.
Little told the graduates, “You are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives. The stories you are about to tell and live will be the ones you will be telling your children, your grandchildren and — in this day and age — maybe even your therapists.”
He continued, “Whatever you try to do in life, try to do with all your heart — devote yourself to it completely in great aims and small, thoroughly and in earnest.
“As you learn and grow through your journey, whether it be triumphant or trying times, you will find comfort and stability employing simple concepts like gratitude.
Students and faculty at Bradford High School were issued a shelter-in-place order at about 12:45 p.m. Friday, for a potential threat that was later cleared by Bradford City Police.
“Back in 1998 I recall wanting to broaden my horizons and learn from experiences elsewhere. I set off and did just that. What I learned, and I’m sure you will too, is that Bradford will always be my hometown, Bradford High will always be my alma mater and you will always be grateful and so incredibly proud of that,” Little said. “I am forever proud to be a Bradford High alumni.”
Ray honored the class’s top Career and Technical Education students Mackenzie Miller, studying early childhood education, and Emily Morgan, studying health occupations.
Sydney Hamer receives her diploma from BHS Dean of Students Ken Coffman.
Following the presentation of the graduates, Lilly Kemick gave the farewell address.
“To achieve something it doesn’t matter what you’ve done or who you are associated with. It is the strength that you can find within yourself that will take you where you want to go. Within ourselves, we can find perseverance, compassion and creativity, but arguably most important, determination and dedication. To achieve anything, you must be willing to work for it,” she said.
“It’s going to be hard and it’s going to be different, but hard doesn’t mean impossible. I know that the people I get to call my classmates have what it takes within them to find success in anything they pursue,” Kemick stated, leaving the audience with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. “It’s a strong reminder of the power that each of us holds within ourselves.
“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”
The following students graduated with the Bradford Area High School Class of 2024 during commencement exercises held Thursday, May 31.
Students marked with *** graduated summa cum laude, with highest honor, achieving a cumulative GPA of 100% or higher and a grade of 80% or better in at least three advanced placement classes. Students marked with ** graduated magna cum laude, with great honor, achieving a cumulative GPA of 95% or better and a grade of 85% or better in at least two AP courses. Students marked with * graduated cum laude, with honor, achieving a cumulative GPA of at least 90%.
Kalie Danielle Dixon***, Eliana M. Kane***, Lilly A. Kemick***, Makenzee Lynn Miller**, Emily Marie Morgan***, Robert Edward Ackley, Angelina G. Addotta, Nino Alan Aiello, Treyna G. Allen, Nathaniel Stephen Andrews, Mason R. Anthony, Nasir E. Armstrong, Sophia Asp***, Desmond M. Barnes, Caden Richard Bartlett, Jessica Deslyn Bennett, Leila Elizabeth Bines*, Sydney Rene Bishop, Colin T. Bisker, Wyatt E. Bond*, Aydin D. Boon, Joseph Ryan Bowen, Halie K. Bradford, Jackson C. Brien, Clayton Thomas Brinsky*, Khloe Nicole Buck, Allie Marie Burton, Michael Thomas Butler***, Adriana J. Campogiani*, Elijah Allen Canfield, Lucas M. Caruso**, Andrew Benjamin Case*, Keira Anne Cleveland*, Agnes I. Collins, Azlyn Maame Yeboah Compton, Emilie Sue Compton, Alexia Rhian Corignani***, Conner Andrew Cornelius***, Sophie A. Cornelius**, Aubrey Mae Cruz, Luka Richard Dallenbach, Gavin James Daugherty*, Gracie Sharon Davis, Ian M. DeGolier, Kaylee Elizabeth Dennison, Tatum Nicole Dibble, Mia Bella Dillaman, Korie M. Dixon**, Joseph G. Dominy, Tristan Connor Dragoone*, Cameron E. Dunlap, Cassandra M. Dye, Skye E. Eakin-Irwin, Leyna G. Easton, Lucas R. Eliason, Erik Michael Elmore, Evan A. Elmore, Carly J. Evers**, Dawn Hazel Flynn, Ebony Skye Ford, Jacob Anthony Franz*, Patrick E. French, Cameron N. Gallup, Taylor Gigliotti***, Kendall Gracey-Dalton**, Anastaisia Lorraine Gross, Peyton Lawrence James Haight***, Sydney Jean Hamer***, Ty Steven Hardy, Keegan J. Hartzell, Liam Edward Haven, Brynn C. Haviland*, Leah Renee Hayden**, Zoe C. Hickford, Jacob Daniel Hilzinger, Arick Atwater Himes**, Kiara D. Hogue*, Zayden M. James, Wyatt Christopher Jordan**, Alexander J. Kelley, Ward Thomas Kennedy*, Luke Donald Kerr*, Jaylee Elizabeth Koppenhaver, Kelly D. Laird, Victoria Rose Langianese, Kelcie Nicole Little**, Derek A. Lyons, Kylind Mykel Maben, Karleigh Lexus Major, Angelika M. Maletto*, Andrew Richard Mangold*, Remilee Brook Manross, Kadence Jean Martin*, John Maxwell C. Matheson**, Linna Zoe Means, Dakotah M. Miksich, Cadence Hope Miller, Xander A. Miskovish, Miah Monacello, Felix T. Morales, Payton Grace Morgan**, Lance C. Myers, Gavin W. Neel**, Madison Irene Neel, James J. Norcross**, Kali Marie O’Neil**, Lillian Katrina Papinchak**, Madeline Grace Parisella*, Matthew C. Perry, Drew D. Pessia, Jaci Jean Pierce, Ian M. Pilon, Madison Lou Potter, James Arthur Prosser, Zola Randall-Klouw***, Tyson P. Ray, Alexis Nichole Renwick, Colton B. Reynolds, Staysha Joleigh Reynolds, Alexander Thomas Rimer, Milo C. Ryan, April Nikita Marie Schoonover, Connor Jacob Schuster, Jaydon Edward Schwab, Dominic Michael Simmons*, Drayton James Slater, Paige Renae Smith***, Austin A. Snyder, Chloe M. Spencer, Aaron J. Stack*, Wyatt D. Stark**, Cadence Marie Stiles**, Mitchell O. Strauss**, Bryan Keith Stubbs, Noah M. Swanson, Johnathan D. Taber, Caitlyn Abigail Taylor***, Daniel Lee Taylor*, Gabriel Ivan Thompson, Camryn Rose Tilford**, Austin Allen Tingley, Milaina Leann VanScoter*, Seth M. Vayno, Alexis M. Wackwitz, Logan Jeremiah Walker, Adam M. Ward**, Brendan S. Warner*, Jedidiah G. Waterman*, Zechariah V. Waterman**, Aliya Ashley White, McKenzie Madison Kay Williams, Steven C. Williams***, Emily Grace Wils, Brayden Wilt*, Chase K. Wineberg, Olivia Kathleen Anne Winkie, Elizabeth L. Wonderly, Abigail Grace Wright*, Sophia G. Wright***, Daulton Levi Wyant, Allen J. Yeager, Alexandria Nichole Young and Athena Marie Young.
Recognized in absentia were Patrick James Dowell, Kaileb M. Gallik, Kelsey Rea Gallup, Samantha J. Kline, Payton E. Miller, Chloe A. Nelson, Jaylin K. Pascarella, Morgan N. Piazza, Jonah W. Schmidt* and Aubri Skaggs.
