Quakertown graduation: We’re all in this together

After 16 months of being kept apart and sometimes feeling isolated by a pandemic terribly difficult to navigate, Quakertown Community High School graduates heard how the resilience and commitment they displayed to one another in the last two school years will help them succeed in an ever-changing world.

Speaker after speaker, beginning with Principal Mattias van’t Hoenderdaal and continuing with class leaders Matthew Catalano, Emily Maceri, Elizabeth Hilton and advisor Barry Stoneback echoed a theme they heard from Mr. V on the first day of school.

“Your success is my success, and my success is your success,” Matt said, recalling Mr. V’s words.

“This idea of collaboration, and relying on each other to achieve something greater than we ever could have achieved as individuals, has been a common theme throughout our time together, and will hopefully continue for the rest of our lives,” Matt said.

More than 400 QCHS seniors graduated as the Class of 2021 at Alumni Field on June 18. Three days after the community rallied with support in a Graduation Parade down Park Avenue, grads were surprised with a fireworks display following the celebratory tossing of caps into the air.

“What a fantastic night,” Mr. V said. “A wonderful night for our students and their families.

Elizabeth Hilton’s message to her class: “No matter where we go or what we do we feed on communal success. I know for a fact that I would not be successful without the support of my family, the encouragement of my peers, and the influence of my teachers, and to that my success is their success, and their success is my success. As we sat in the auditorium half-listening to Mr. V preach this in our minds, never did I think it would have an everlasting impact, and I really never thought it would reappear in a graduation speech, but here we are so shoutout to him.”

Emily Maceri said: “I am proud to be a Panther because amidst all of these hardships caused by COVID-19 our class was able to make the most of our remaining high school years. I attribute that to the tenacity, grit, and resilience that each and every one of you demonstrated during these trying times. These characteristics are of the utmost importance and will carry you far in life, no matter what path you have chosen.”

Mr. Stoneback, who advised the class with Sandi Frisch, Stacie Schantz and Chris Roth, said he has met many families of his students and he’s found “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

But he asked students to remember that “your tree isn’t just your own blood, but all of those people who you have chosen to be a part of that tree. Keep people in it that will always lift you up and support you, especially at your worst times.”

Mr. Stoneback also thanked students for being his inspiration. “Thank you for inspiring me again. Thank you for just being you. If you continue to do that, it’s all the advice you really need. We are all so very proud of you. I really love you guys and I am going to miss you.”