MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent WAHS Class of 2025 graduates celebrate during the Williamsport Area High School’s 2025 Commencement Thursday night.

Rising temperatures did little to melt away the enthusiasm that filled the Williamsport Area High School gymnasium as loved ones and educators gathered for the district’s 154th annual commencement ceremony as 298 students crossed the stage, closing off their high school experience.

“You’re here to recognize the culmination of 13 years of hard work, dedication and perseverance,” Superintendent Dr. Timothy Bowers told the assembled graduates.

During his speech lauded the occasion as a shining example of public education’s continued success.

“The story of America’s public school system is one of our country’s most enduring stories. It has always served our nation’s steadfast foundation through every storm our country has ever faced, throughout every crisis, from the Great Depression to 9-11, from natural disasters, to social upheaval, public education has been our nation’s rock. Not because the buildings are sturdy or the textbooks are perfect, but because of what happens inside these walls,” he said.

“Minds are opened, possibilities expanded, and young Americans discover that they can shape their own futures,” Bowers said, stressing that a mere 12 years after the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space, Neil Armstrong, the product of the Ohio public education system was the first to set foot on the moon.

“The sky is not the limit. Today is not the end, and tomorrow has limitless possibilities,” he said, encouraging the graduates to take seriously the legacy they carry with them.

“Always remember that each day is a gift and each lesson learned is a lesson,” Bowers said.

Taking the podium, student board representative Elijah Nilson encouraged his fellow graduates to avoid placing artificial limits on themselves.

“In our time after high school, we’re going to set limits for ourselves, but we don’t want to make a limit on how good we can do,” he asked.

“In the fall, you’ll just be doing something you’re passionate about, and do you really want to set a barrier on your passion,” Nilson continued.

Nilson also called on the graduates to prioritize their own needs and wants over what others may expect of them.

“If you build your foundation on the expectations weighing on you, it can be unstable, and as you feel like you’re letting them down, the foundation will wobble and eventually crumble. When you build a foundation on your own goals and you reach them, though, it’s so much more rewarding,” he said, while also stressing the need to avoid dwelling on past mistakes.

“You all have the power to change your future. You are so much stronger than you believe. You made it this far, so shoot as far as you want to the stars. There’s no consequence for believing in your own strength,” Nilson said.

“The class of 2025 is composed of over three hundred millionaires who are rich in integrity and skill. Although we all have different facets, we have one thing in common, our humanity,” student representative Paiton Miller said.

“As young men and women entering adulthood, the future is in our hands. Compassion has no limits, and together we can reach the moon,” she stressed.

“This life is full of opportunities, and our time is now,” Miller said.

“‘Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning,” she said, quoting Mitch Albom’s novel, Tuesdays with Morrie, which she identified as one of the most influential texts she’s ever read.

“I hope we can leave this ceremony on our separate paths, while holding onto the shared virtues I have identified tonight,” she said.

“Keep a reminder of the weight of generosity and carry it wherever you go. Maybe put it in your pocket, chew it up and stick it behind your ear, or add it to your TikTok bio. A little sugar can go a long

way in the bittersweet poundcake of post adolescence,” Miller concluded.

Head Principal Dr. Justin D. Ross then took to the stage, linking the graduates academic career to the theme of the night, “don’t tell me the sky’s the limit; there are footprints on the moon.”

“You didn’t wait around for permission to dream big. You stepped forward, pushed boundaries, and made your mark, again and again,” he said.

“You did not just participate, you led,” he stressed.

“You’ve built a legacy that can’t be measured in trophies or test scores, it’s measured in the impact you’ve made,” Ross said.

“Class of 2025, we are proud of you. We believe in you. Now go show the world just how far a Millionaire can go,” he said.

“Before I start, I want to thank the real ones that got us all here, energy drinks, Google, Quizlet, and of course the legendary AI,” joked Class President Khamani J. Dyson, before thanking the teachers for helping them get to their special moment.

“We’ve always heard that we are one of the biggest schools in the county. But as I stand in front of our class of 298 graduates, I realized that going to the biggest school was the greatest gift I was ever given because of the diverse interests, backgrounds, and experiences we have here,” she said.

“The phrase, “the school upon the hill,” means a lot to us today. It means we are seen, challenged, and will rise up. And that’s exactly what we did,” Dyson told her fellow graduates.

“In the wise words of Shakespeare, ‘some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,’ and I know our class will continue to choose greatness. Not because it’s easy, but because we’ve learned how to support each other, grow through the challenges, and how to rise above. We’ve truly become millionaires,” Dyson concluded before the ceremonial turning of the tassel and cap throwing.