Fair day for graduation

After 13 years of schooling, 439 Delaware Valley High School seniors became alumni with the shake of a hand, presentation of a diploma and adjustment of a cap tassel at the Friday, June 13 commencement ceremony of the class of 2008. Fortunately for those in the packed Warrior Stadium, Friday the 13th brought nothing but fair weather, and graduation was not rescheduled to the following morning for the first time in at least three years. Valedictorian Eric Langberg told those at the ceremony how author Robert Frost took the “road less traveled by,” and that his fellow graduates would soon, too, choose their own path to follow. “While your road may not lead you in the direction you expected it to, enjoy this, cherish it, relish it,” he said. “Follow your path to its reward, which I hope will come soon, but make sure you enjoy the journey along the way.” Meg Palermo, the class Salutatorian, emphasized the importance of high school friends. “From a young age, our families have had the biggest impact on our characters,” she said. “But the people who shaped us most, who have most helped make us who we will become, were not our administrators, not our teachers, not even our parents, but our friends. Without my friends, I would not be up here today...would not have made it through the rough times.” Between beach balls bouncing from senior to senior, noisemakers, foghorns bursting sporadically and confetti shooters sprinkling across the turf, Superintendent Dr. Candis Finan presented four prestigious academic scholarships. Zachary Pearce won the Ryan Eric Schafer Memorial Scholarship for academic excellence, citizenship, honesty and service; Anthony Testino won the Lt. William David Eberz Memorial Scholarship and Anthony John Lapriore Memorial Scholarhip for leadership, character and academic acheivement; Cate Schaffer won the Arthur Kenneth Ridley Jr. Human Relations Award for contributions to human relations through citizenship and high moral standards; and Jen Ewald won the Phil Fitzpatrick Scholarship for good citizenship, a positive attitude and humanitarian interests.