As Elizabethtown Area School District (EASD) superintendent Dr. Michele Balliet greeted the audience gathered at LCBC Church in Manheim on May 30 for the Elizabethtown Area High School (EAHS) Class of 2019 commencement ceremony, she shared just a few of the accomplishments of the 283 graduates that could be encapsulated in numbers.
Academically, the achievements of the class included having two National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists, three National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists, five National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students, and a senior-led Brain Busters team that advanced to the finals for the first time since 2004 - ultimately taking home the silver medal in a "sudden death" round. Four seniors received an FFA Keystone Degree, six seniors earned awards at the 2019 Science Olympiad, and one senior was named Grand Champion at the North Museum Science and Engineering Fair.
Balliet pointed out that in the sphere of the arts, the senior-led cast was influential in helping the EAHS spring musical production of "Seussical, The Musical" to earn three awards at the Hershey Theatre Apollo Awards: Outstanding Dance Number, Outstanding Student Orchestra, and Outstanding Musical.
In athletics, Balliet noted that three teams won their Lancaster-Lebanon League section title, eight teams qualified for the PIAA District 3 tournament, and two teams qualified for the PIAA State tournament. The EAHS Class of 2019 also had 19 seniors named to Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star teams and 19 students who took part in sports recognition days to announce their plans to continue playing sports at the collegiate level.
Balliet also commended the students for their altruistic accomplishments, like the numerous seniors who volunteered their time in younger grade-level classrooms in EASD and the Mini-THON leadership team that led a campaign to help raise more than $85,000 for Four Diamonds.
The audience also heard from Terry Seiders, president of the EASD Board of School Directors, and Maura Hobson, EAHS principal. Senior Maya Hollinger sang the national anthem, and EAHS Class of 2019 president Rachel Malari introduced featured student speaker Frank Miele. Valedictorian Ryan Minnich and salutatorian Adrienne Nolt presented speeches as well.
Ryan, the son of Sherri Minnich, plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania to double major in computer science and philosophy. In his speech, he recalled some of his best memories at EAHS and expressed gratitude for the faculty, administration, friends, and family members who supported each of the students throughout their years in school. He encouraged his peers to see graduation as a launching point and to continue working hard in their next steps.
"There is a common myth that those who achieve success or accomplish something extraordinary in this world are born with rare qualities that set them apart from the rest," stated Ryan. "Being successful is relative. Anyone can be successful if they try hard enough."
Adrienne is the daughter of Carol and Michael Nolt and plans to attend Adelphi University to double major in dance and Spanish. She reminded her classmates that every one of them has a story to tell, a skill to share in life, and a way in which they are brilliant.
Citing a real-life example from the book "Freakonomics" about parents who named one son Winner and another son Loser, Adrienne reminded everyone that labels are not everything. "Of course, the book goes into some more detail, but the gist of this story is that Loser Lane went on to get a great education thanks to plentiful scholarships and eventually became a sergeant with the NYPD. Meanwhile, Winner spent a whole lot of time in jail."
"Maybe I was born with the name Winner, maybe my name is Loser, but either way life has given me a label that seems impossible to off, just as it has with all of you," Adrienne continued. "But regardless of that label, I know I can't ever sit back and forget to put the effort in."
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