Members of the Whitehall High School Class of 2014 participated in its commencement ceremony last Friday at Stabler Arena.

The program was filled with emotion, reflection, promise, tears, joy, relief and accomplishments.

Speakers, including graduates and administration, looked back on the journey of the class as well as what lies ahead for the new graduates.

Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent John W. Corby praised the graduates for their success in the classroom and extra curricular activities.

He told the graduates to move into the future "to fulfill your life's dreams. Don't be afraid to fail, take small steps on the way to success."

Corby said the 13 years of hard work put in by the graduates should be looked at as "memories for a life time." He said the class of 2014 has Zephyr pride.

Whitehall High School Principal Christopher Schiffert addressed the student body about the Zephyr pride he has seen in the students. He stated the success of the graduates resulted from their dedication, hard work and their superb teachers.

Schiffert urged the Class of 2013 to return to the high school, though they are leaving for college, military or joining the workforce.

Valedictorian Angela Nguyen spoke about the role social media plays in their lives.

"Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype, Snapchat, for most of us, this litany of words delineates the progression of social media that we have used over the past ten years of our lives. They were perfect avenues to keep in touch with our friends, to see what their interests were and how they had changed over time," she said.

"It has reached the point, where these very forms of social media have overtaken our lives as young adults. Have we been conditioned at a young age to depend on social media as our primary method of communication? What happened to conversation, face to face, in the real world," Angela said.

Looking around the arena, she said parents and students alike are itching to look at their cell phones, to check on snapchats and to see who has been calling and texting.

"In fact, some of you are probably on your phones right at this minute, at this point, some of you are probably thinking that this is the most boring graduation that you've ever been to, even if it's your own," she continued.

"But stop, and take a minute to live now and enjoy this last time that we have together as the Whitehall Class of 2014. Take in all of your surroundings and enjoy this experience because it only happens once in a lifetime, and here it is now for us to remember for the rest of our lives," Angela said.

"Right now, it might not seem like we have missed out on much in life, but this day marks the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, where we try to find new things, find our place in life, explore different options, travel the world. And what about the future? For some, we are going to want to start a family, build a company, help the poor, to learn and grow every day of our lives."

Salutatorian Christy Lu in her address said, "Tonight, we cross the threshold of one of life's many checkpoints and for that I commend you all. However, we must remember that this ceremony is merely a checkpoint," she said.

"Do something kind, make somebody laugh and don't take yourself too seriously," Christy said as one navigates through life.

The Whitehall High School Class of 1964 was also honored at the ceremony.