The Whitehall High School Class of 2015 reflected on its achievements, future and the present moment, in the speeches delivered by the student speakers, principal and superintendent during the school's 111th commencement Friday.

The administration, faculty and students walked into Stabler Arena, on the Lehigh University campus, as the WHS band played "Pomp and Circumstance." Once the procession of the graduates finished, the high school chorale performed "The Star-Spangled Banner," receiving applause from the large group of parents, family and friends in attendance.

Student Photis Zographou opened the ceremony with a speech reflecting on the class's time spent in the high school.

"I'm not only losing a friend," he said, "but the most stable love-hate relationship I've ever had."

Zographou recalled each year of high school. He said freshman year was the easiest, and sophomore year was the year the class got to know one another. During junior year, the procrastination plague began to set in, and by senior year, the procrastination had become senioritis.

"We are not saying goodbye to the past, but hello to the future," he said. "Never forget where you came from."

Zographou concluded the speech with a quote from Abraham Lincoln:

"And in the end, it is not the years in your life that count; it's the life in your years."

The graduating class of 1965 was present for the commencement, and the students read the names of each member.

Class President Alexis DeMelfy spoke to the students about their experience in the district.

"High school was all about guidance," she said. "Each student was told how to act.

"I never realized how important guidance is until it wasn't available," DeMelfy added. "I had a blank composition in front of me, and with no rubric, I struggled to write this speech."

DeMelfy combed over the advice that she was given throughout high school, from adults, teachers and students. She spoke of high school as being the best four years of life. She said the class should look forward to college and that it will be filled with new opportunities and outcomes.

Student speaker Tiffany Tran spoke about five points for the students to remember moving forward, including being open, not procrastinating, showing respect, and being authentic and happy.

"A person can change their future by changing their attitude," she said.

High school Principal Christopher Schiffert spoke to the students at the commencement. He told them that the high school was their "home away from home" and that commencement is "truly a milestone event."

"It is not the end. We have many destinations in life. It's like riding a train, the Z train," he said. "Sometimes we get off, but we need to get back on. A new train will set off tomorrow."

Schiffert then read "The Station," a poem, by Robert J. Hastings.

Superintendent John Corby called the commencement "the finale of 13 years of hard work and the last time you will probably sit together."

Corby looked back at the class's acts of kindness and genorosity, such as Saquon Barkley giving his district medal to another competitor or Crystal Reyes being named prom queen. He reminded the class to stay humble and say simple phrases such as "thank you," "please," "excuse me," "pardon me" and "I'm sorry."

"Be true to yourself, be authentic. There's only one of you," he said. "Don't be afraid to fail. Failure is only a step on the path to success."

Concluding the program, Class of 2015 speaker Sarah Fadel spoke of happiness and her certainty that her classmates would go on to do great things.

"What direction will we take?" she asked. "Many of us sitting in this room can't even begin to acknowledge what we are capable of. Class of 2015, we are destined for greatness.

"We are Zephyrs, and we don't just ride the train, we guide the train.

"We are Whitehall. We. Are. One."