On June 6, the 112th annual commencement of Whitehall High School took place inside Stabler Arena, Bethlehem. Friends, family, faculty, staff and members of the Class of 2016 filled the arena with excitement and happiness as the 13-year scholastic journey for the latest batch of Zephyrs had come to its end. With the stage set, the Zephyr band hit the opening notes of “Pomp and Circumstance,” and the ceremony was underway.

Members of the faculty and staff were the first to enter the aisles, dressed in their black and blue graduation attire, while the Class of 2016 followed shortly in pursuit. Dressed in maroon and gold, members of the Class of 2016 were greeted with cheers and applause.

After Whitehall High School Chorale performed “Star-Spangled Banner,” it was time for the students of Whitehall High School to make their speeches to those in attendance.

First up was Victoria Marks, who offered a welcome address. Starting off her speech with a quote from Albert Einstein, Marks said, “The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. While the one who walks alone is likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been.” Marks’ speech was centered around that quote and how important it is for the students of the Class of 2016 to set out on their own path away from the crowd.

“I want you to feel something,” she said. “I want you to feel confident enough to walk away from the crowd, as we are truly different from everyone else.”

Marks went on to speak about Donald Trump, and it appeared she received the reaction she had expected when dropping his name, but she relayed the point that being different and unique can create life-changing experiences. She spoke about how the journey had come to its end, how the bad decisions have helped a person to know what they do not want in life and how the good decisions have helped the person realize what they do want in life.

In the end, Marks encouraged the Class of 2016 to “just be you.”

Student Chaplain Emily Falkenstein gave the invocation to the crowd as members of the audience bowed their heads, before class President Gazal Jabir took the stage to give her speech, which focused on the pursuit of knowledge.

“Everyone’s face is filled with a bright light, and together we have earned that light,” Jabir said. “We have had a variety of experiences from high school, which has led to the extensive growth of our character and minds. My mind blossomed around your positivity.”

Jabir said the Class of 2016 was a very competitive class, and together, their pursuit of knowledge impressed not only the staff of Whitehall High School, but other classmates as well.

“Together we will make a positive impact because the Class of 2016 is one of a kind!” she said.

Jabir brought up different points of global importance, ranging from Syrian refugee understanding to global warming awareness and touched upon how the Class of 2016 will always battle tolerance and understanding. She thanked the graduates’ family members for their ongoing support and touched upon how important it is to not belittle those without the benefit of an education, as her parents weren’t given the opportunity to finish school.

Jabir read a quote from Maya Angelou: “My mother said I must always be intolerant of ignorance but understanding of illiteracy, that some people, unable to go to school, were more educated and more intelligent than college professors.”

Salutatorian Emily Emick was next at the podium, centering her speech on the idea of photographs and the importance they have in our lives. Emick spoke about her family tradition where each year Emick and her sister would take a picture on the front porch on the first and last days of school. Emick said reality sank in during the last porch picture.

“Every picture is a tiny memorial,” Emick said, “a symbol of who we were in that moment.”

Emick spoke about how over the past few months, the senior class has gone through a plethora of events that culminated around family and friends taking pictures of them, from prom to award ceremonies - in fact, she said, it seemed like the picture taking just never stopped. Emick even joked that she may very well send more Snapchat pictures to people in a day than she does text messages.

In the end, Emick spoke about change but wanted the Class of 2016 to always enjoy the moments in front of them.

“We may change, but who we are now is important, and we should be proud of who we are,” she said.

Emick ended her time at the podium by taking one more photo - a selfie from the stage with the entire Class of 2016 behind her.

The final student speech came from Valedictorian Tyler Hatch. Hatch thanked all of those who had helped the Class of 2016 arrive at this point before centering his speech on the topic of never wasting time in life.

Hatch began with a quote from Steve Jobs: “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘no’ for too many days in a row, I know that I need to change something.”

Hatch spoke about how life is filled with choices - what to eat, who to talk to, what career path to go down - and how in the end, every choice is important, and one should never waste the gift they have been given in life.

“Everybody has one life, and everybody gets to choose how to live it,” he said. “Congratulations, Class of 2016!”

From there, Whitehall High School Principal Christopher Schiffert made introductions of all of those on stage, from the students to the board of education, the superintendent and the distinguished staff before honoring the 50th anniversary Class of 1966. Each member who was in attendance from the Class of ‘66 was recognized.

Schiffert told the Class of 2016 how proud he was of each and every one of them.

“Well, you all made it; that’s good!” Schiffert joked. “It’s a great day for all of you! Make no mistake - this is a milestone. Soak in it, relish it, enjoy it!”

Schiffert spoke about how time is of such importance, and students should never forget to cherish their loved ones as time will beat us all in the end.

Schiffert ended his speech by stating, “Make us proud! I know you will!”

Whitehall-Coplay School District Superintendent John Corby was the last to speak to the students before the diplomas were handed out, and it was on a somber note as 2016 would be Corby’s last address as superintendent.

Corby started out his speech by stating, “This, this is what I am going to miss - the excitement and happiness of the graduating class!”

Corby, who is retiring, encouraged students to “hold on to these memories, as they are priceless.”

He told the crowd, “If the Class of 2016 is a glimpse of what the world’s future holds, then, folks, we’re in pretty darn good shape.”

The Class of 2016 was accepted by Schiffert and Corby; the diplomas were handed out to each and every member; and just before the caps were thrown into the air by the graduating Zephyrs, the alma mater was sung by the senior members of the chorale, bringing together the classmates one last time.