Class of 2014 looks back at their history and moves forward as family
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
Jalexa Shanice celebrates after collecting her diploma.
CALN – In every life, there are going to be certain events that no one can control. However, having a strong family basis can make the tough times easier and give the individual confidence to venture out into the future.
At their graduation Wednesday night, Coatesville’s Class of 2014 celebrated that family’s progress toward the future.
“There’s community in the struggles, as there’s community in the triumphs as well,” said Commencement Speaker Anthony Massucci.
After senior Gabrielle Hines sang the National Anthem and “America,” Interim Superintendent Leonard Fitts addressed the family of graduates, highlighting his pride in their endurance through struggles
“I’m proud of your tenacity. I’m proud of your remaining focused in light of all that was going on around us,” said Fitts.
He advised them to find something they are passionate about, hang around the smartest people, and go above and beyond the expectations placed upon them.
“Find the courage to do the things that people told you you could not do,” he said.
Valedictorian Paul Draper recounted the events that shaped the class, from the national events as terrorist attacks that changed the country in their kindergarten year and the election of the nation’s first African-American president to the school wide events, like the football team’s run to the state title game last year, Mike Boykin’s capturing a state wrestling title and Tra-c Davis’s state high jump title, and various accolades won by the academic team, marching band, and color guard.
“Tonight, we celebrate past accomplishments and new beginnings. And we’re celebrating history—the history of us, the Class of 2014,” he said.
Gabrielle Hines sings the National Anthem at the beginning of Wednesday night’s proceedings. She also sang the Alma Mater at the end of the ceremony.
He said that this history has shaped and will continue to shape who the Class of 2014 is.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say also that our history is about the character and integrity of our class—the intangible yet ever-present aspects of our community that define our school experience,” said Draper.
But the history of the class has also been shaped by how the class interacts with each other.
“Those friendships are what bind us together as a class, and those friendships—more than any equation you learned in math class or any book you read in English class—they’re what you’ll remember from high school,” he said.
Though they may look forward to carrying these life preparations into the future, he also said that they would miss their time in high school, especially the teachers who are passionate about helping students improve.
“I know they love us, and that is a profound feeling,” said Draper.
He told his classmates to reflect upon their past and imagine their future as they collect their diplomas.
After the chorus seniors performed “Yearnings” and “May the Road Rise to Meet You”, Commencement Speaker Anthony Massucci also recounted the memories that shaped his class and the teachers who did the same.
“You guys always treated me not as below you but as an equal and as a friend,” he said to the educators.
Often light-hearted, Massucci, too spoke of the people and events that shaped his class, such as the time he was erroneously announced as a candidate for homecoming queen.
“Class of 2014, we have been through so many ups and downs, lefts and rights, 90 degree angles, shenanigans, Raymour and Flanigans,” he said.
Anthony Massucci delivers his commencement speech.
For all the positive memories that he told them to keep close, he also said that together, the class has experienced loss when they mourned the deaths of Jerry Warfel, Alex Smith, and Evan Pringle.
Massucci asked his classmates to remember the moment, quoting Ferris Bueller’s advice to stop and look around.
He told his classmates to, “Go out and make your own happiness,” before playing a single, struggling, out of tune note from a saxophone, his signature comedic injection from WCHS segments.
CASH Principal Robert Fisher thanked not just the graduates but those who supported them along the way including the school board, administrators, parents, families, and friends.
“We are truly grateful for each and every one of your contributions,” he said.
Fisher said that the Class of 2014 has been a unique one for their accomplishments in academics and extracurriculars.
“During a time when it would have been easy for you to be distracted, you never lost focus and continued to do things the right way,” he said. “You have left a legacy which will be difficult to match.”
He also took time to congratulate a number of the seniors including Danielle Stelzer who from her time in kindergarten at Kings Highway to middle school at South Brandywine and her four years on the high school campus never missed a single day of school.
Fisher made sure to point out that he was recognizing only a small portion of the class’s many accomplishments. He also quoted George W. Bush, telling the C students that they, too, can be president of the United States.
He asked that as they move forward, they follow the example of the turtle.
The chorus’s seniors sing “Yearnings” and “May the Road Rise to Meet You”.
“You see, in order for a turtle to move, first, it must stick out its neck,” said Fisher.
As the stoic, often tough façade of principal gave way to his passionate and emotional side, Fisher told the graduates to make the most of their future opportunities, not dwelling on mistakes but moving forward with confidence.
“Your schooling may be done, but your education will always continue. Take pride in yourself and your accomplishments,” he said. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
As the students walked across the football field so many of them rallied around for the past two years, gray skies loomed, and a light mist took the air. But much like the past year, the environment did not faze them, and the Class of 2014 took another bold step forward.
