Emotions ran high during the Upper Perkiomen High School annual commencement, last Thursday, June 11 as more than 200 seniors walked to receive their diplomas and, at the same time, offered support to one of their own.

        Looks of excitement, some of uncertainly, were visible on the faces of students as they entered the school's gymnasium packed with friends and family members. Men dressed in blue caps and gowns and women in all-white regalia walked arm-in-arm as the high school band played the familiar "Pomp and Circumstance" tune. Anxious relatives raised their cell phones high in the air to capture that perfect shot.

        The Upper Perkioment High School Uptones started off the program with a harmonious rendition of the National Anthem a cappella, followed by the traditional alma mater song.

        Student speakers Emily Hasson, class president, along with Jonathan Kleinfeld, Jacob Keiper and Tyler Devine delivered prepared remarks to the graduating class. While most speeches appeared light-hearted in nature, some were delivered in a more serious tone.

        "High school is where we make mistakes, we lose the people who swore forever to us, we cry over things that have absolutely no significance…" Hasson told the audience. "But that's okay. This is the time when it's okay to make mistakes, to make new and better friends … and to make memories that we will remember."

        Hasson was overcome with emotion during her remarks when she recalled all the people close to her who have impacted her personal life. "You will always have a place here in the valley, but we're meant to expand our horizons and make our school proud," she told her classmates. 

        Later in the program Keiper admonished his peers not to forget the place where they had grown together: "Inside this building we have grown and been shaped into the young adults and the role models who we once looked up to," he said. "We have a vast amount of knowledge imparted onto us from our teachers who have invested so much into us." 

        Superintendent Dr. Alexis McGloin then took over the podium to offer her words to the graduating class. She said that kindergarten students from local elementary schools had asked her to pass along "inspirational tidbits" to the class of 2015 from class of 2027.           One student, she said, advised the graduates to "always share their crayons with others," and another youngster, according to her, wanted older students "to have courage."

        "It takes courage to go to college and the workforce, or to join the Armed Services and, trust me, it takes courage to be an adult," McGloin said. "Here's the best part: You are prepared. Your teachers have done an exceptional job of getting you ready for what the future lays ahead. Have courage to persevere and be the best person you can be," she added.

        But the memorable highlight of the hour-and-a-half evening program happened in an unscripted moment during the presentation of the diplomas.  The class unity was on display the moment 19-year-old Kellie Myers walked on stage to receive her diploma that was handed to her by her two grandmothers.

        In January of this year, Myers' father, Kevin Meyers Sr., tragically committed suicide and only a week before graduation, her mother died suddenly on June 4.  Her cause of death is undetermined and still under investigation, the senior said.

        As Kellie's name was called out, every member of the graduating class rose to their feet and burst into rousing cheer and applause. Myers walked as she tightly clutched a photo of her herself with her parents with the phrase "My angels" lining the photo frame. 

        "The moment showed me that there are good people in the world and that I'm loved no matter what I go through," Myers said after the ceremony. "It was like giving back to my family to show them that I did this for them."

        Myers, who was in color guard, said she would always treasure the moment of walking across the football field with her parents during a senior night for band recognition on October 24, her father's birthday. She said that she plans to attend a nursing school to become a trauma nurse "to give back the hope and inspiration that many nurses gave me through this process."

        Before closing the ceremony, Principal Robert Carpenter boasted about many accomplishments of the class noting that 44 students had received local award monies totaling $43,815 and more than $1.8 million was awarded to students in scholarships and private donations. He pointed out that eight students plan to enter the military service and 140 students, or 67 percent of the class, will be continuing their education beyond the high school.

        And after the simple customary gesture of moving the blue and gold tassel to the left upon conferment of their degrees, students hurled their caps into the air — into the direction of the unknown.