On June 7, 2024, the Commencement Band played “Pomp and Circumstance” as the Class of 2024 walked into The Mirenda Center of Neumann University in their graduation gowns and caps.
The gym was filled with parents, friends, and peers. Exactly 300 seniors were eligible to walk and graduate with the Class of 2024, according to Mrs. Tabatha Duffy.
The ceremony lasted from 5-7 p.m., with superintendent Dr. Wagner Marseille leading opening remarks, and seniors Iris Cheng and Lola Babin following as the faculty’s chosen student speakers.
The Class of 2024 elected Mr. Richard Foulk to be their faculty speaker. Foulk commended the seniors for their accomplishments and attributed their graduation as memorable alongside other important June 7 dates in history.
“So, add June 7, 2024 to this list of firsts. Strath Haven class of 2024—their first summit achieved, their first turning point into the professional world, their first step into the independent world,” Foulk said.
Seniors Leah Gonzalez-Diaz and Sabrina Karapelou revealed the Class of 2024 class flag they worked on together, which will be displayed in the third floor hallway and office with the other class flags.
Principal Greg Hilden introduced the Class of 2024, spotlighting the Panther Press’s new issue of Overcoming and commending senior Lola Babin’s mention of constant change in her farewell Student Council presidency letter.
Assistant Principals Mrs. Andrea LaPira and Mrs. Tabatha Duffy called each student individually to receive their diplomas. The cheering and clapping from the audience left graduates with smiles, or even tears, in their eyes.
Senior Nadir Tinsley closed off the ceremony by conducting the tassel turn and encouraging his peers to toss their hats off for making it through high school.
“I’m really glad that everybody threw the hat up because I’d look really stupid if they didn’t,” Tinsley said. “It felt great. It was like everything [was] up in the air.”
Following the seniors’ hat toss, they returned to the auxiliary gym for a final goodbye and hugs with the many high school teachers they had over the years.
Celebrating graduation after four years of overcoming and being the last class to spend a year of high school over Zoom leaves many graduates looking forward to the future.
“I don’t know how I got here,” Caldwell said. “I don’t know when I aged. I don’t know when I turned 18 years old and graduated, but it’s surreal.”
Caldwell reflects on how fast time moved for her, leading up to graduating.
“We were walking in, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, we’re graduating.’ The realization just doesn’t really hit you until you’re literally here,” Caldwell said. “I’m looking forward to starting something new and having so many more opportunities I don’t even know exist. I’m just excited to try new things and meet new people. We just graduated!”
