PORT ALLEGANY — Sixty-one Port Allegany High School graduates were encouraged to “R.I.S.E.” during their commencement ceremony held Friday.

Class speakers Raelin Meacham, Ella Moses, Lily Madison and Juuso Young urged their classmates to go forth with resilience, investment, success and effort.

Meacham said, “Resilience is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties, or toughness.

“Whether you’re going to college or entering the workforce, there will be hard times. That’s one of the few things in life that is guaranteed,” she continued. “It is necessary to stay strong and not give up. Life requires resilience to get by — it’s a simple fact. But I believe in all of you. We’ve made it this far, so I know we have the strength to keep moving forward. We all have the capability to bounce back, or be resilient.”

Moses said, “The kind of investment I’m talking about is a quiet, consistent effort we pour into what is important to us. Investing is showing up again and again, even when progress isn’t clear.

“I hope I can convince you that some of the best things we carry out of high school aren’t the final transcript or the awards, they’re the things we have built. The friendships, the lessons, the memories. Why? Because we cared enough to invest in them. Our families, teachers, coaches and friends invested in us.

“And now we go our separate ways, we keep investing — new goals, new people — and the person we want to become awaits us. So to the Class of 2025, keep investing, because when we invest in the right things we rise.”

Madison, class salutatorian, said, “Success is something quite difficult to land on. Literally, because it is in essence, truly intangible, and figuratively, because almost everyone seems to have their own definition of success.

“From varying job opportunities to college acceptances and everything from internships to lifelong friendships, Port Allegany’s Class of 2025 has modeled every type of success,” Madison continued. “I know for a fact that our class has musicians, artists, scholars, athletes and genuinely hard-working people who will spend their lives doing things for others.

“Remember that success is a trophy seldom achieved only by one’s own efforts. How would we succeed without the care and support of our loved ones, the joy and comfort of our friends? The way you measure success bends at will to the definition you give it, so use this as the power to determine your own success.”

Young, class valedictorian, said, “While reflecting on my time as a student, I’ve been constantly reminded of the effort it took to reach his stage. When I think about effort, I am reminded of this quote, ‘The man who moves a mountain, begins by carrying away small stones.’

“What this means is that the biggest accomplishments don’t just happen. They come from numerous small, unseen and consistent efforts,” Young said, adding the countless hours spent working toward graduation came not just from the students themselves, but from teachers, family and peers.

However, Young said, “Even with the help of others, success relies on your own efforts. While motivation is a powerful force to achieve goals, true success depends on discipline — it is what will keep you moving stones even when they begin to get heavy.

“When you fully commit to giving your best effort, you build a future that will make a difference. No matter what plans you have for the future, my advice is the same,” Young said. “Continue pushing forward, showing up and putting in effort even when it feels like it won’t matter. Continue to move stones that make up mountains in your life; your efforts will build something monumental. In time, when you look back upon that old mountain, you will realize the difference those small stones have made.”

Superintendent Paula Newell told the graduates their next chapter holds unknown as well as boundless opportunity.

“What you do next, the choices you make, the values you hold, the way you show up in the world will shape not only your future but the future of those around you.

“Go forward with purpose. Carry with you the lessons of this place. Make us proud,” Newell said. “Not just by what you accomplish but how you treat others, how you honor where you came from and how you shape where you’re going. Congratulations, Class of 2025. You are ready, and we cannot wait to see the kind of world you help create.”
Principal Marc Budd said, “What a great class. They’ve been fun to watch over the last 6 years, I’ve really enjoyed every aspect of your class. What a great bunch of kids. The amount of talent that’s sitting here on stage is just amazing.”

Newell then awarded diplomas to the following members of the Port Allegany High School Class of 2025:

Bryce L. Ableidinger, Willow Eve Babcoat ck, Aiden Allen Barkefelt, Thomas Michael Beeson, Sophia Behringer, Donovan L. Benson, Connor D. Briggs, Hayden S. Buchsenschutz, Kelvin E.  Burgess**, Nathaniel James Vern Canfield, Tyler J. Carinci, Devan Lee Carpenter, Jacob T. Causer, Aidan Ross Clark*, Lane D. Crawford, Brieanna Margaret Daniels, Elliana Grace Distrola, Gracee Noelle Donovan, Carter James Drugg, Emily Mrie Errick, Joshua Steven Evens, Tyler W. Fillhart*, Grace C. Finn*, Jersey N. Gamet, Mason J. Gordon, Austin W. Hamilton*, Levi Mark Howard*, Lillian Margaret Hurler, Madison B. Langfitt, Kendrick B. Lathrop, Joshua Michael Lawrence, Peyton A.R. Lockwood, Sarah Marie Long, Azriel Luk, Lily Sophia Madison*, Gavyn E. McKervey, Raelin Joyce Meacham*, Cole Moore, Ella Kristine Moses*, Carson Michael Neely, Ian James O’Shea, Joy Ou, Riley E. Painter, Skyler D. Pelchy**, Tayton Pierce Roys, Bailey Lynn Rupert, Willow J. Sauers*, Lewis Glenn Shaffer, Beau T. Shelley**, Brandon W. Sherwood, Derek L. Smith*, Beau James Smoker, Isabelle M. VanNette, Joshua Daniel Veilleux*, Izabell Rae Wade, Payton Daniel Yeager, Preston Alan Yeager, Juuso Alexander Young*, Christian Louis Zirckel.

* denotes a member of National Honor Society 

** denotes a member of National TechnicalHonor Society