Plum Senior High School 12th-graders said goodbye to their borough classrooms and hello to the next chapter of life Wednesday night.
Nearly 300 graduates celebrated commencement on the field of Mustang Stadium in front of hundreds of family members and friends.
The high school band played “Pomp and Circumstance” as the students did a half lap around the track to thunderous applause from audience members.
Principal Joe Fishell was among the administrators to lead the purple- and gold-clad teens from the high school to the stadium.
“What you have achieved here at Plum Borough Senior High School has been nothing less than spectacular,” Fishell said during his remarks. “Your resiliency and determination has been nothing less than inspiring. If the past three years has taught us anything it is that we need each other. I have been so proud to watch you overcome, leaning on each other, learning from each other relying on each other, but most importantly loving each other.”
The school’s Air Force JROTC color guard presented the colors while the chamber choir sung the National Anthem and Plum’s alma mater.
Student school board representative Hailey Drapcho delivered opening remarks. Maura Marston and Rudra Thakkar, named outstanding seniors, also gave speeches highlighting student accomplishments and thanking everyone who supported them throughout the high school journey.
Matthew Diss, student council president, encouraged his peers to not be so focused on the future that they forget to experience life in the present.
“Live it now. Live in the moment and live it with all your strength and passion. Be bold about it because now is all we have and our dreams won’t chase themselves,” he said. “Pretty soon today will be just another memory.
“So let us not lose this moment while it’s still in our grasp. For now we sit united one last time in this familiar stadium; as a class, as a community, as a vast sea of purple and gold fabric with eyes full of anticipation.”
The stage was set at the 50-yard line, near the Plum name. The scoreboard repeated the numbers 2022.
Hundreds of students were seated to each side of the state at what appeared to be a very slight angle and hung on every word of the speakers as they awaited the turning of the tassel and a moment to toss their caps.
“We congratulate ourselves for the accomplishments we made, thank those that guided us on our way and celebrate the map that we continue to draw,” Drapcho said. “In our drawings we see the proof of hope in this world and all its shapes and sizes. Only we can find where our hope arises, and today I see it in every single pair of eyes on this field.”
