A special ceremonial event was held at a special location for a special class of Zephyrs from Whitehall High School. The Class of 2026 gathered June 1 at PPL Center for the school’s 122nd annual commencement ceremony.

The approximately 330 members of the Class of 2026 were celebrated by their families, friends, teachers, administration and school alumni.

The commencement kicked off with the WHS band, under the direction of Michael Tanzos, playing “Pomp and Circumstance,” otherwise known as the graduation song, written by Sir Edward Elgar of Great Britain in 1901.

The welcome to all present was provided by WHS Principal Dr. Peter J. Mayes. He welcomed everyone present and asked all to stand and remove their hats to honor the national anthem.

The talented WHS chorale, under the direction of Cara Craft, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which was written by Francis Scott Key Sept. 14, 1814.

The opening remarks were given by Whitehall- Coplay School District Superintendent Christopher A. Schiffert. He congratulated the Class of 2026 for its achievements. The class built lasting friendships, he said, and he urged the seniors to go forward bravely in life.

“Don’t just play it safe. I challenge you to use the motto ‘Zephyr Tough’ while moving forward,” he said. “The future belongs to you.”

He told the graduates to use their resilience to guide them.

“We are proud of you,” Schiffert concluded. “Go forth and lead.”

Senior class president and salutatorian Vihaan Sinha began his speech by thanking the families, his parents and teachers for their unending assistance. He asked the seniors to reflect and transport their mind back in time to their first year at WHS.

Sinha asked them to “think about your perceptions of your freshman year” and how some of those assumptions were different from their experience after four years. He concluded with the importance of a willingness to change. The last four years is our understanding of change, he said.

He concluded that they have a responsibility for the future. Society is becoming more divided, and we cannot solve problems living in an echo chamber, he said.

“Graduation is not a final destination. It is a launchpad for our future,” he opined.

He told his peers to “stay open minded.” He ended by congratulating the Class of 2026.

Mayes welcomed the WHS Class of 1976 on the 50th anniversary of its commencement and thanked the 1976 class members for awarding scholarships to members of the Class of 2026.

Mayes requested a moment of silence for Douglas Harvey, a beloved teacher who died during the school year. He also congratulated a successful and loved teacher, Robert Panny, who will be retiring over the summer.

Laney Headman, a senior class student speaker, provided a talk about the four years of growth she experienced at Whitehall. She thanked the Class of 2026.

A second senior speaker was Maya Williams, who talked about the challenges of her senior year, noting “getting forward was not easy.”

Williams asked the graduates to look “at their classmates, think about your teachers, coaches, parents, as they are all part of our story. It is not about perfection. It’s about growth — who you are, how you treat people and how you carry yourself.”

Williams concluded by saying, “The world needs kind people. Treat others with empathy, and take care of yourself. Thank you to the Class of 2026.”

The dozens of honors and outstanding scholars in the 2026 class were applauded by Mayes, and he congratulated them for their dedication and focus to attain high academic achievement. Mayes noted $57,000 in scholarships were awarded at a recent awards event to students’ postsecondary education plans.

Mayes then recognized the high school faculty and staff, thanking them for their work in helping shape the future of the 2026 graduates.

Valedictorian and senior class vice president Habib Leyos congratulated his classmates for their efforts to get to this point. He thanked his parents for all they did for him.

He told his peers to not worry about the future, to take one step at a time and to reminisce about their Whitehall experience. He urged his peers to not give up on their ambitions.

“Failure does not happen when you fall. It happens when you quit,” he noted.

The chorale then sang a musical selection of “Time” by Jennifer Lucy Cook.

Mayes noted this was his last talk to the Class of 2026. He became visibly emotional when he talked about the class being extra special to him. He started as principal in 2022 during their freshman year.

“My first day at Whitehall was your first day at Whitehall,” he said. “Thank you all for leaving your mark on Whitehall, and thank you for leaving your mark on me. I am incredibly proud of you. Congratulations, Class of 2026. I wish you the very best.”

The formal presentation of the Class of 2026 was offered by Mayes to Schiffert, who gave his formal reception of the Class of 2026.

The roll call of the graduating students was announced by the Class of 2026 senior class officers.

School Board President William P. Fonzone Sr. presented diplomas to the graduates as the students lined up to cross the stage to receive their diplomas and march into their future.

After the students all received their diplomas, the chorale led the singing of the school’s alma mater.

The ceremony closed after Schiffert announced his declaration of graduation. After Schiffert’s announcement, the next action of the class was the ceremonial moving of the tassel from the right to the left side of their caps.

In a celebratory moment, some students finished by throwing their caps high into the air.

The band played “The Thunderer” by John Philip Sousa as the graduates left the building to embrace their future plans to enter university, college, technical school, a military career or to begin work in a potential career.