The Neshannock High School auditorium was overflowing with friends, family, faculty, and thirteen years of memories on the evening of June 7, 2017, for 58th annual commencement ceremony. The Neshannock Band played the traditional Pomp and Circumstance (Sir Edward Elgar) as our eighty-four graduates processed down the aisles of the auditorium.
High School Principal, Mr. Luca Passarelli, welcomed the guests of honor and all in attendance to the memorable evening prior to introducing the distinguished alumna, Dr. Alison (Perod) DuBois, Class of 1991, who provided the alumni address. Dr. DuBois, daughter of Nick and Kathy Perod, serves as an associate professor of education and counseling at Westminster College. She resides in Neshannock Township with her husband, Michael, and three sons, Mike (NHS Class of 2018), Matt (NHS Class of 2020), and Luke (NHS Class of 2031). Dr. DuBois delivered words of wisdom based on her own life experiences and the parallels to Robert Fulghum’s All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.
Following Dr. DuBois’ address of the graduates, Salutatorian, Julianne Urban, and Valedictorian, Robert Kwiat, entertained the Class of 2017 with personalized messages, a walk down memory lane, and hopes for future successes. District Superintendent, Dr. Terence P. Meehan, offered the graduates congratulatory words and expressed the honor of being the newest members of the distinguished Lancer alumni community prior to the award of their diplomas.
Following the conferring of their diplomas, the graduates ceremoniously shifted their tassels to signify their status as alumni. The audience and alumni were then treated to a “Look Back Through Time” media presentation assembled by Mr. Tom Wizen and the multimedia classes.
The celebration continued in the high school gymnasium where the graduates tossed their caps high into the air! Then, for the first time, an all-alumni photograph was taken. It was inspirational to see so many generations of Lancers in one photograph!
Many hands worked together to honor our graduates. Special thanks to the Board of Education, Miss Kimberly Heim and Mrs. Darci Wise (Faculty of the Music Department), Mr. Joseph Thomas (Student Activities Director), Mrs. Brenda DeVincentis (Sr. High Guidance Counselor), Mr. Jason Williams (Nutrition Inc.), Mr. Mark Ulam (Director of Building and Grounds), Mrs. Tracey Romano, and Mrs. Leslie Ferry, who coordinated the letters from the faculty to our graduates.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to the Class of 2017!
