June 13, 2012—Elizabethtown Area High School held its commencement ceremony for the Class of 2012 on June 11 at LCBC. Amidst much fanfare, valedictorian Emily Hornung and salutatorian Ian Kowalok led the 304 graduating seniors into the packed auditorium where they were greeted by overwhelming applause from family, friends, faculty, and community members.

Superintendent Michele Balliet welcomed the more than 2,000 guests in attendance. She thanked the students for the positive legacy and amazing accomplishments they established during their years in the district.

“In education, we always speak about the positive impact a teacher can have in the life of a student,” said Balliet. “I would like to flip that around and say thank you to each of you for making a positive impact in my life. May each of you be richly blessed as you begin this new leg of your journey as you continue to accomplish amazing things.”

Jamie Rowley, school board president, spoke to the students about the challenges they will face as they pursue a variety of endeavors.

“You will face challenges from time to time. What will define you as a person is how you overcome the obstacles on that road,” Rowley said. “I hope you will posses four values that will serve you well through life, and they are, fortitude, honesty, integrity and faith.”

In her remarks to her classmates, Hornung offered a “recipe for life” for helping others.

“Give someone a surprise when they are having a bad day, whether it be a cookie or a hug or a compliment. But don’t stop giving, because in massive quantities happy surprises bring innumerable smiles,” Hornung said.

Kowalok spoke to his classmates about “discovery” urging them to try new things in the spirit of self-discovery.

“Don’t wait for life to teach you what you want,” Kowalok said. “Actively search for your own desires. Do what you love throughout your life as you live it. You only get that one life to live; don’t waste it.”

Mariah Keener, selected as the senior speaker, ended the student remarks by delivering her speech titled Lessons Learned.

“I challenge you to keep your mind open to new information because you never know what or where you’re going to learn,” Keener said. “Tonight we embark on a new journey to find out who we are and what we’re meant to do in life.”

Before presenting the diplomas, high school principal Kathleen Griffith offered final thoughts to the graduating seniors.

“As you leave the ceremony tonight, remember your roots here at Elizabethtown Area School District, as they will support you throughout your life regardless of the many changes you encounter,” said Griffith. “ I challenge each of you to welcome change into your heart and make it a positive part of life, as only then will you reach your full potential.”

Class officers for 2012 were Victoria Madonna, president; Laura Shenk, secretary; Naomi Makishi, treasurer; and Sara Fuhrman, historian.

Administrators, faculty, staff, and members of the board of school directors extend their congratulations and best wishes to the members of the Class of 2012.

Austin Keith Albright, Austin Jeffrey Aldinger, Monsserrat   Alejandrez, Kyle Hunter Amig, Marissa R. Anson, Devin M. Apple, Edwin G. Arroyo-Diaz, Miranda Ashley Atkins, Valerie Sara Bachman, Caryn Elizabeth Bailey, Breeann Nicole Baldwin, John E. Balmer III, Tara Kelsey Barry, Ethan Dean Beck, Joseph Paul Beck III, Christian James Becker, Jay Lynden Bedenbaugh, Casey L. Berra, Cara Bethann Bilheimer, Timothy Bingaman, Deidra Elizabeth Bollinger, Joel Allen Bomgardner, Zachary Hunter Bomgardner, Raebecca Elizabeth Grace Boozer, Bruce E. Boyer Jr, Nicole K. Bradley, Owen Charles Bradley, Tyler Sean Bridgehouse, Jessica Borja Brito, Matthew C. Brown, Ryan James Brubaker, Joshua D. Bryan, Aaron Tyler Buckwalter, Nicholas A. Buonamici, Zachery Allen Burkett, Gabriella Marie Catalfano, Joshua Scott Charles, Monica T. Chennavasin, Samuel T. Chesbro, Isabella Rose Chitty, Matthew D. Clark, Quinn S. Cleis, Krista Marie Collins, Andrew B. Cook, Rebecca Ann Cooper, Lorin E. Craig, Devan Nicole Creasy, Breanna Storme Croft, and Shaakira Natia Cummings.

Demiere A. Daveler, Carl Crozier Davis, Kelly Ann marie Davis, Steven P. DeGroat, Joseph Andrew Dempsey, Aaron P. Dennis, Kelly Lynne DiCostanzo, Giordan Lewis Diodato, Briana Marie Dohner, Cory Mason Dohner, Chase Van Preston Donley, Tamantha C. Drexel, Alexander Mark Dugan, Adam Tyler Duh, Katherine E. Dunkelberger, Trenton D. Dunning, Aaron M. Dupler, Shaun M. Eckerd, Cordell Ethan Ellis, Dylan Paul Engle, Troy E. Ernest, Zachary Scott Eshleman, Alyssa Marie Estel, Sarah Fairbanks, Hayley Christina Fake, Nariman   Farman, Alex Steven Faus , Andrea Elizabeth Faus, Tatiana Nadine Figueroa, Bryan Tyler Finney, Ryan Adrice Flenke, Sorrell Alyssa Flick, Ronald E. Flowers III, Gregory Weston Flury, Thomas Benjamin Forry, Zackaryah George Elias Fouse, Spencer Rose Frank, Matthew D. Frantz, Forrest N. Fremont, Paige Maureen Frick, Eric Lee Friese, Sara Delaney Fuhrman, Travis J. Fullerton, and Joey Paul Funck.

Rachel Marie Gallucci, Allyssa L. Garber, Jonathan D. Garber, Makayla Brianne Garber, Jennalyn Marie Garrity, Brent A. Germer, Brandy Lynn Ginder, Cassandra Lynn Ginder, Kody A. Gingrich, Brandon S. Gobrecht, Laura Elyse Good, Taylor William Good, Emily Frances Greenly, Nathaniel Paul Grenko, James Freeland Groff, Steven Harry Groff, Kelsie Alexis Grove, Nicole Marie Grundhoffer, Jesus Guzman-Gonzalez, Cody Ray Halbleib, Tyler A. Halbleib, Journey Ann Hampton, Melissa S. Hardy, Marie Elizabeth Hart, Andrew David Heisey, Jessica Lynn Heisey, Melita Jo Heisey, Alec R. Hellein, Brandon Lee Heming, David A. Hendershot, Haley Beth Henderson, Danielle Lynn Henry, Kimberly Ann Hernandez, Joseph A. Herneisen, Charity Joy Hess, Alexandra Marie Hetrick, Heather Lynne Hickernell, Andrew Lincoln Hilsher, Cora May Hilsher, Maxwell Paul Hockley, Alexis Marie Hoover, Emily Elizabeth Hornung, Joshua M. Husmann, and Zackary Louis Hyson.

Brandon Lee Irvin, Kyle Joseph Ivory, Chelsea Marie Jackson, Zachery Aaron Kauffman, Darren R. Keene, Mariah Etta Keener, Nicholas Kyle Keifer, Malachi Lee Kelchner, Courtney Joelle Keller, Kileigh Elizabeth Keller, Miranda L. Kelly, Spencer David Kenley, Sarah Beth Kennedy, Ryan David Kishbaugh, Daniel W. Kline Jr., Adelaide I. Klonicki, Dara Beth Knaub, Glenn Koons, Kasey Allan Koser, Kristofer Terrence Koudelka, Ian Banks Kowalok, Meghan Alexandra Kreider, Nathaniel J. Kreider, Austin Tyler Kunkle, Julianna J. Lakota, Brianna Christine Landis, Corey James Laughlin, Carlie Marie Leaman, Courtney L. Lentz, Thomas Dru Levosky Jr. , James E. Lewis, Anthony Carlo Lonardi, Jasmine K. Long, Jerred O. Long, Samantha Devon Long, Kristopher Anthony Luciano, Brian T. Lupold, and Kaitlyn Grace Lyons.

Victoria Corrine Madonna, Ferdi Makhmudov, Naomi Makishi, Abigail Michele Maldonado, Jesse Samuel Martin, Kyle Scott Martin, Tiffany Ann Martrano, Elizabeth Paige McCaulley, Cheyenne Noelle McConnell, Chelsey Ann McCracken, Nicholas Matthew McElheny, Morgan Lynn McGloshen, Emily Ann McNaughton, Jacob Robert McNitt, Kevin Michael Means, Hannah Sophia Meier, Haley Elizabeth Melton, Michael Todd Mihajlov Jr., Ryan David Miller, Cassidy Caitlin Minneci, Jordan Elizabeth Mitchell, Brandon M.W. Moist, Elizabeth Ann Moyer, Jacob Walton Moyer, Bryce Michael Mrakovich, Taylor Nicole Mumma, Virginia Ruth Murphy, Sydney Rae Musser, Kristin Mary Nauman, Courtney N. Neideigh, Brett C. Nissley, James William Noel III, Taylor Renee Noll, Jacob Arthur Norton, John P. O’Connell, Seanan Robert O’Connell, Ashley L. Obenstine, Kristine Michelle Oberholtzer, Joshua J. Olinger, Derek Lee Olson, Courtney Sue Orban, Jonathan G. Ortiz, and Wesley Mark Ovens.

Emily N. Pavalonis, Brandon Michael Peifer, Jacob Thomas Piccioni, Cody Savedy Pich, Toby S. Pich, Alexa Ann Polites, Amanda Lee Powl, Micheal A. Price, Thomas Robert Price, Angelica Maria Pugliese, Devin Chase Quinto, Alexandra Christine Rago, Maddison Marie Raleigh, Stephen Joseph Ramirez, Ryan Mitchell Rehrer, Kelsey Evelyn Reynolds, Gregory James Rhoads, Hannah Corrin Rich, Meghan Nichole Rider, Alyssa R. Riggleman, Anne Ronning Ritsch, Jeremy Alexander Rivera, Ted Jay Roden Jr., Kari Lyn Rodenhauser, Matthew Scott Romain, Rafael Enrique Roman, Tiffany Amber Sandlin, Brittany Arlene Schaffner, Dillion Scott Schaffner, Rachel Jane Scott, Savanna Danielle Sexton, Colton J. Shank, Derek A. Sheesley, Jessie Tyler Shenk, Laura Jo Shenk, Ryan David Shirk, Clinton Jacob Six, Mitchell M. Skinner, Kyle Joseph Sklareski, Deanna Marie Slater, Htway Soe, Jordan E. Specht, Kyle D. Spigelmeyer, Julia Clare Spittal, Tyler A. Stark, Hunter D. Steinhart, Kayla Ann-Marie Steinle, Adam Joseph Stern, Kelsey Charlene Stidd, Craig A. Stiffler, Justin A. Stillwagner, Nicholas Alan Sumpman, and Samantha Nichole Swift.

Gary E. Thomas II, Joshua Adam Thompson, Anthony R. Tinajero, Gina L. Tinelli, Gerald W. Torres, Jose Juan Torres Lopez, William Robert Troutman, Allison C. Turzai, Taylor Michele Ulrich, Erin Elizabeth VanHorn, Jorge Luis Vega, Anthony L. Vera, Andrea N. Voss, Katie Marie Waite, Tasha Lee Walker, Mallory L. Weimer, Kaelyn Morgan Weleski, Katie Mae Weller, Marisa Arlene Willen, Caitlin Anketell Wilson, Jeremy Edward Wise, Regina Faith Witmeyer, Brandi Jo Wolgemuth, Brookelynn Paige Wolgemuth, Christopher M. Wood, Cassandra Lynn Yeagley, Jacob R. Yost, Kailey Jo Zeager, Lynzee K. Zimmerman, Megan Elizabeth Zimmerman, Adam A. Zink, Jared Paul Zook, and Walter Eugene Zuna III.