welcome to the commencement ceremonies for the class of two thousand and three on behalf of our graduating seniors the administration faculty and staff i walk i'm the distinguished members of the class of nineteen fifty three seated in the first rows here in our on our floor welcome back to all of at this time i would like to introduce the members of our board of school directors please stand when i announce your name and remain standing and please hold your applause and to i've read all the names mr and the members of the administrative team who are in attendance this evening please stand at this time and we recognize the administrative team well the members of our faculty and staff who are in attendance please stand to be recognized the class of two thousand and three receive our diplomas today we are whisked away from the safety of high school and childhood into a vast constantly changing world of uncertainty this world is filled with new challenges for us to meet and at times these can seem to be quite daunting as graduating seniors we will be faced with the challenge of finding effective ways to treat and prevent life threatening diseases such as aids we have also recently witnessed a conflict in iraq in which american and coalition forces risked their lives to remove a dictator who is said to be supporting the largest threat to worldwide security terrorism as daily newspapers are filled with articles about strange diseases and foreign wars it becomes possible for us graduating seniors to look upon our upcoming years with some fear and uncertainty however along with this same fear and uncertainty we find reassurance and inspiration because of a special group of people who have come to be with us today the fifty year graduates of peters township high school remind the class of two thousand and three as well as everyone here today that while the troubles of the modern world are unique they are not exclusive as they sat in the same seats in one nine hundred fifty three they were faced with challenges in fears not unlike our own at that time polio was rampant throughout the world infecting countless numbers of people in the  instead of terrorism these men and women were faced with the fear of communism as president truman had led american and u n forces into a conflict on the korean peninsula where young soldiers bravely fought to defend the free world from the threat of communism since nine hundred fifty three a vaccine has been developed to battle against the spread of polio today this disease is almost nonexistent communism is no longer considered a threat to worldwide security as the united states and russia now work side by side to build a new international space station the class of one nine hundred fifty three is among a generation of individuals who have changed the world for the better they have made it a safer more beautiful and more prosperous place for us to live without these men and women we the class of two thousand and three would not be here today we look to these individuals as an example of how hard work determination and teamwork will allow us to conquer our fears and anxieties in order to continue to improve the world in which we live for the generations to come that is why we consider it an honor to have the class members of the class of nine hundred fifty three with us today they provide us with the assurance that we too will succeed we will change the world just like we were taught i will now read the names of twenty members of the peters township class of nine hundred fifty three who are with us today i will ask that each graduate stand as his or her name is read please hold your applause until all the graduates names are read mrs shirley mr harvey jones mrs joanne fife jones mr thomas mr charles thomas light holder mrs sally keeler light holder mr robert b mcclory mr larry meredith mrs joan long paul for thirteen years now our families friends and educators have expanded our minds and hearts like blue moons and filled them with the plethora of knowledge and values now those same people are here today to watch as the strings the tires here are cut and we are let loose to fly away the possibilities which we can use the educational foundations are as many and as individual as the number of people sitting here i'd like to share with you a poem by shel silverstein called eight balloons which to me parallels our graduation from this high school and our flight into the rest of our lives eight balloons no one was buying aisle broke loose one afternoon eight balloons with strings of flying free to do what they wanted to one flew up to touch the sun popped one thought highways might be fun pop once again at when a cactus pile one stage of play with a careless child pop one tried to taste some frying bacon pop one fell in love with a porcupine no one was buying they broke loose and away they flew free to float and free to fly and free to pop where they wanted to these balloons waited crammed with air until their big flights into their world our time here peters sound ship high school has been our little tank of helium you might say we've been given the space to make mistakes explore for ourselves and discover the many possibilities in our world so many influential people have molded us into very different talented individuals full of potential and dreams our families first of all have nurtured us with nothing but unconditional love and if yet sometimes let go to give us the priceless opportunity of learning from our own mistakes our educators have shared their knowledge and passions with us and motivated us to be lifelong learners our friends have also played a large role in molding us into who we are today by providing us an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on always each of these people and many more have worked together to ready us for our next step in life whether it be school or military our balloons have been filled all different shapes sizes and colors are we with strings to be cut the exciting new opportunities that await us when we fly away from this place are infinite i hope that you will all pursue the dreams that you have been building inside of you you can bear no fruits in life without first a dream and a passion that a crib in a which said a man streams are an index to his greatness there are so many places to soar with what we've been given here at peter's never stop dreaming and being inspired so that you can continually share your gifts with the world like the eight balloons each of us will take a different path in life but no matter where you end up i just hope that you will always trust in yourselves learn from your mistakes and follow your dreams now all two hundred  balloons are ready to take on the world and it's finally time for our strings to be cut as silverstein said they broke loose and away they flew free to float and free to fly and freedom pop where they wanted to thank you very much each year i watched speakers during graduation head to the podium prepared to spout out a string of seemingly meaningless question i was determined never to waste such an opportunity with a cliche laden speech then there was my senior year one of the most emotional of my life brimming with a completely unexpected life altering event and feeling exposed vulnerability i experienced firsthand the significance of friendship and came to see the importance of see making things work not taking things for granted sound like something you've heard before probably never the less it was only after experiencing them for your myself that i am able to see the value in these universal themes applicable to anyone completing a chapter in their lives when people are asked what they're going to miss about high school they're not going to tell you about the wonderful new building or nutritional cafeteria food what they will mention i the friends they're made the first cliche that been reconfirmed during most minustah moments can be summed up in this anonymous quote lites truest happiness is found in friendships we make along the way of the most valuable aspects of my high school experiences is the quality of the people that i have met i have made some wonderful friends discovered extraordinary character and of encountered people who have truly inspired me some of the some of these people i have known for a significant portion of my life while others are fairly new acquaintances in both i have seen the admirable qualities of sincerity compassion and resilience these qualities give them the strength to deal with the flat tires or even broken engines along life's highway i have seen the strength and such depth of character in my friends my parents and my teachers i will no longer be seeing these people frequently in my future but their wisdom will remain an ongoing guide in my life developing relationships with these inspiring people and gaining knowledge and insight from them now that is what life is all about another cliche that has held true in my life is the ever important don't take things for granted i'm not saying that this is in any way new of course not it's a cliche but it has been significance in my life in the most recent years maybe it's because i've seen people lose their health and even worse lose those they care about i've come to the sudden recognition of how much i appreciate the people i'm privileged to be around of how much i value their company this is the time we have with them so it is important to make use of it to make it count in the past i've also taken for granted the opportunities laid at my feet we are lucky enough to live in this prosperous safe environment and have had the opportunity for a solid education a large proportion of our graduating class is looking forward to higher education no matter what we do have a future the opportunity to do great and wonderful things to be who mever we choose to be so even though you've heard it before i'll go ahead and say it seize the day the great thing about cliches is the permanence in people's minds what i've said today w probably quickly dissipate from memories as they're supplanted by new experiences not every experience computers township has been a positive one but the sum total of these experiences has had a role in shaping every individual my hope is that each member of the class two thousand and three will focus on the value of their experiences both good and bad extraordinary and mundane to help us grow as individuals and build better lives for when our class began kindergarten almost thirteen years ago in september of one nine hundred ninety the world was a different place than it is today the cold war was still in its dying breaths michael bolton was topping the music charts and few would ever heard of a small rogue government called the taliban since that time when we began our educational journey we've lived under three presidents fought three wars in asia and been witness to one of the most influential events of the last fifty years and now more than ever as you pass across the stage tonight we're making ourselves permanently a part of that world which is already so much a part of us after tonight we will all be moving towards our eventual positions in life a few are probably joining the military to serve our country several entering the workforce and many are seeking higher education in order to further our goals but whatever our chosen paths may be we must all  knowing that they lead to a world which is lost much of the simplicity that it once had more and more there are no evil empires the line between good and evil freedom fighter and terrorist has become increasingly blurred to borrow a phrase of robert f kennedy's from one thousand nine hundred sixty six there is a chinese curse which says may he live in interesting times and like it or not class of two thousand and three we live in interesting times i'd love to be able to say that the world we're about to enter is noble pure and innocent but sadly it's anything but but this is the challenge that we've been given and our class goal has to be to make the most out of life in interesting times and we can do this by finding just two simple things a happiness through and sheer enjoyment of life and fulfillment by making ours worthwhile on september eleventh two thousand and one the lives of two thousand seven hundred ninety five people were ended by one of the most sudden and brutal actions ever perpetrated against the united states but set a person who lost a loved one of the disaster painful  was we would go through it all again in a second if it meant we could have one more day with him one day to tell him how much he was loved how much brighter he made any room he entered these are stirring words and if there's just one thing that they should teach us it's to always enjoy life in the moment that we have this the author of this quote wasn't focused on the pain and negativity that sometimes arises in life but rather on the happiness from the memories of her late husband you know by this of course i don't mean we should all go through life in happy ignorance flitting from one place to another without the slightest regard for the genuinely important issues which are often facing us far from it we simply need to discriminate between the key issues of family character and morality and the others that people often just take too seriously by simply keeping our minds open to the positive in life we can avoid being made captives of suspicion fear and paranoia but it all does little good to have this happiness it's empty without a deeper sense of fulfillment which comes from a life well spent so in order to achieve this fulfillment in the world we need to never halt our attempts to improve it regardless of who says we can't and all the reasons why not will do this in ways is various our passions some of us will become teachers to inspire the young others scientists to find cures for diseases and many we parents were nurturing a new generation but each of us can find an aspect of our fields in which we can give back everyone can do something one of the most basic needs is to find fulfillment in life and by making our lives mean something to another i believe we can achieve this noble goal we're blessed to live in the best country in the world even here happiness is far from a guarantee even benjamin franklin once said that the constitution only guarantees the american people the right to pursue happiness it's up to us to catch it on our journey will need to make sure that we enjoy life during the one shot that we've got at it as it's being presented to us and we need to find a purpose for our lives and by doing so achieve the fulfillment that we all too often lack and now it's up to us to pursue happiness so class of two thousand and three i can wish you nothing more earnestly than happy hunting and the fulfilling chase thank you very much how can we describe this class of two thousand and three first of all this group of seniors will always be known as our one hundredth graduating class other descript include academically gifted they have earned two million dollars in scholarship awards many of our seniors a bit admitted to the most competitive colleges and universities including harvard yale the university of virginia brown dartmouth carnegie mellon university cornell university columbia university and the air force academy just to name a few they are artistically talented our seniors will be pursuing careers in the areas of music theater dance the visual arts and in media related fields also and are so happy to hear that several of our graduates are choosing the art of teaching for a career path athletically talented many of our teams led by these seniors captured section championships participated in w p i a all playoffs state competition this class delivered a second consecutive championship in hockey to peters township and a p i a state champion in track remarkable character the members of the class of two thousand and three have certainly displayed character they've exceeded our expectation in so many ways they have learned the meaning of respect responsibility and honesty and at times they have taught us a few things about those same attributes along the way they have been involved with the community through activities through service our students with strong senior leadership have produced over six hundred programs for our local cable cable t v community t v station one recent production part of a series titled the big picture presented important information and it was from the students perspective the class of two thousand and three has six eagle scouts one gold award winner and our voice of democracy has been carried all the way to the white house by one of our graduates and  always we are thrilled that several of our seniors are planning or a career in the most prestigious service of all particularly at this time and i would be service to our country  closing it's my distinct pleasure to present to you dr kirk and to you mr mcmurtrie the group seated before you known as the class of two thousand and three these students have completed the requirements set forth by the pennsylvania department of education and the peters township school district and they are prepared and ready to formally receive their one nine hundred fifty three june two thousand and three so different in so many ways yet least one thing was and is the same the freedom that this country provides provides unlimited choices for the direction that you want your life to take as you wake each day you start making choices make the choice to start the day with the excitement and anticipation of your first day of school the first day of summer vacation today as you look in the mirror in the morning do you like what you see are you heading toward the goals that you would like to be if not do something about it you only have a finite number of days hours and minutes on this world don't become complacent wandering around like a zombie from the night of the living dead looking for a t v remote a quote attributed to t he actor james dean is dream as if you'll live forever live as if you'll die tomorrow develop the passion for living for learning for loving for laughing if you were to be successful in this life you must learn to take responsibility for your own actions the choices that you will make will not always be the right ones and life is going to be rough and unfair at times but you have to learn from your experiences don't blame others for your actions don't complain or whine pick yourself up dust yourself off take the responsibility and get on with life no matter how bad your day is tomorrow the sun again providing a new tablet and a new box of crayons to color with it make it bright make it colorful make it you and don't worry if sometimes you color outside the lines do something nice for someone every day give something back to your community preserve your integrity and your reputation value and respect time show your love for your family and develop confidence faith and a belief in yourself so you can answer that face in the mirror yeah i'm doing ok on behalf of the peers concha board of school directors i wish you good luck good luck good health good laughs and good choices with your lies and now we begin we will begin passing out our diplomas starting with the first two rows of girls aaron levie capital kristin elizabeth cattle  kristin nicole coffee brian edward benson joshua michael meyer simon bianco michael scott bradbury robert a brown andrew bergen william christopher alexander hart chapman sean benedict christopher christopher james brian michael cook carly marie nina marie caitlin elizabeth project jordan michael cooper james benjamin cousins patrick are callin robert henry daughter  blake andrew the michael patrick the bartolo william scott dosage jason palmer donald matthew david early jennifer allen high school michelle lynn hoffman elizabeth hospital nicole rene kennedy damon christopher jonathan allen hamilton thomas hammond patrick adam harm shannon elizabeth mcnamara megan louise mitchell jessica kristine morrison abigail we nicholson amanda jeanne piers craig griffin corp robert ellison lee matthew now allan brian alexander long andrew george macarthur anthony john christopher james we michael moore nic nicholas david matthew michael john cody patrick ryan patrick mckenna david michael alexandra and record page elizabeth r rachel marie emily mary sales jacqueline kathleen schaefer dana when they shower jessica and the right nicholas g p devon l peter sean michael quinn trevor ryan caitlin elizabeth jenna victoria gregory joseph surely mark andrew smith am charles snyder ronald w soka the third jordan robert taylor raymond robert tirzah the second matthew wright got david wells having the distinction of being the last to offer congratulations to the class of two thousand and three it's truly an honor tonight we are gathered here for a very special celebration a celebration that honors the past and embraces the future indeed a celebration that highlights legacies that cross over generations and demonstrates the undeniable connection commitment and reliance we have for one another regardless of our place in time this year we celebrated the one hundred year anniversary of peter's township high school graduation a special birthday one that would not have occurred had it not been for the sound foundation of stablish by our forefathers one hundred years ago peters township has evolved into a quality school district recognized for its commitment to affording his children access to a world class education a district built on the solid foundation and successful because of the support because of the supportive and committed parents and quality staff of support personnel and excellent teachers and administrators a system that is supported by a strong and dedicated school board yes a first class community so tonight we embrace the past we say thank you to those who came from the class of one nine hundred fifty three and enhanced the legacy and we look forward to a wonderful future with our graduates of two thousand and three as those of you in the class of two thousand and three both individually and collectively look excitedly to the future it behooves you to recognize and learn from those who preceded you to understand the intertwining of generations past and future if indeed you are to have a quality life and be a productive citizen yes the future can be both exciting and frightening but if you would hear to a few basic principles they transcend age and time you will have a great opportunity to realize your dreams a few months ago a dear friend gave me a book titled the four agreements after reading this book the message was one i want to share with you the graduates of two thousand and three the reason for that is the message is timeless and the superintendent could have spoken these words to the impeccable with your word speak with integrity say only what you mean avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love number two don't take anything too personally nothing others do is because of you what others say and do is a projection of their own reality their own dreams when you are immune to the opinions and actions of others you won't be the victim of needless suffering number three don't make assumptions find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings sadness and drama with just this one agreement you can completely transform your life number four always do your best your best is going to change from one moment to the next it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to when you are sick but under any circumstance simply do your best and you self judgement self abuse and regrets as you look to your future with great enthusiasm you must also be cognizant of the complex world you are entering as you leave peters township high school understand that every exit is an entrance to another place time and challenge honor yourself and your parents by becoming an honorable person draw your strength from inside it's the first place you look to deal with the problem a question or a fear is in the mirror your strength will be  and to the class of two thousand and three you hold our future in your hands and