ALBRIGHT STUDIO/For the Sun-Gazette Brooklyn Blenman accepts her diploma from Superintendent Eric Briggs.

The heat was no match for the excitement of proud parents, loved ones, educators and especially, the graduates being celebrated during South Williamsport Area School District’s 133rd annual commencement ceremony Friday.

The theme of this year’s ceremony was keys, chances and choices.

Third ranked student Lael Bradley touched on what she considers the keys to success.

“Success means something completely different for everyone, but the keys to that success is shared,” she said.

“Everything we learn throughout our years of schooling can be used as building blocks for future success, and the moral lessons and friendships we built along the way can help pave our past and set a foundation for our future growth,” Bradley said.

“The connections we made not only gave us friends, but also gave us the importance of socializing,” she said.

“What we learned academically isn’t the only thing that can be used as a key to our success. Whether we learned about writing essays, how to do proofs in math, or even things like eating bugs, we were all learning the whole time,” Bradley said.

“All of these experiences build up into the keys we can all use during our future endeavors towards success,” she told her fellow classmates.

Salutatorian Matthew He used the Greek myth of Icarus and his father, Daedalus’ escape from a high tower on the island of Crete as an analogy to the chances he and his fellow graduates will be given as they enter adulthood.

“Too many people focus on the fall, of not reaching too high and staying in the middle, staying safe and comfortable. But what’s ignored more often is that Daedalus also warns his son to not fly too low,” He said.

“We come from a school district that more people than not would be happy to underestimate. Statistics would tell you that we come from a place with fewer opportunities and resources, and with lower expectations,” he said.

“It’s easy to believe that we’ve been destined to mediocrity because of where we’ve started, but we’ve already more than proven this idea wrong,” He said, listing off a series of academic and sports accomplishments.

“Success isn’t something reserved for people born in the right place at the right time with the right opportunities. Your environment does not have to define your ceiling,” He told his classmates.

“Chances are terrifying because there’s this idea that you’re staking your future on uncertainty, but every meaningful choice you make, every opportunity in life carries that same risk, and beyond that, they carry the possibility of discovering just how far you can go,” He said.

“If you crash, so be it. If you fall, fall, knowing that you gave it your all, that you had the courage to leave the ground in the first place,” he said.

Valedictorian Julia Stamm used her speech to touch on the choices the students made during their high school career and those to come as they leave it behind.

“Throughout high school, we have constantly had to make choices, whether they were small or large and whether they were good or bad, they shaped us into the people we are now and got us to this very moment,” she said.

“Some choices provided new opportunities, while others may have held us back,” Stamm said.

“Even if you don’t believe you accomplished anything with high school due to grades and involvement, you should know that deep down you did. All those hours where you thought your hard work went unnoticed are on display tonight,” Stamm said.

“Take time to decide what you are truly interested in, and don’t be afraid to change your mind. Faith has given me strength and hope towards my future, and I hope you find what gives you that comfort through life,” she said.

“Success is not measured in money or status, but in personal growth and achieving goals. Take life one choice at a time, and realize you have all the keys and chances you need to be successful,” Stamm concluded.

Likening the graduates to NFL players, high school Principal Jesse Smith stressed that although accolades and records are often held in high regard, it is those efforts they make, largely out of public view that leaves a true legacy.

“I used to think the records, championships, accolades, and hall of fame induction were the important part, but new players come along, records are broken, and before long players become a footnote in the history of the sport,” he said.

“What lasts is the type of person you are off the field, what you do for people, and how you treat others. I challenge you, seniors, to invest in the things that will have a lasting impact. Invest in your community, invest in volunteering, invest in relationships, invest in people,” Smith said.

Lifelong South Williamsport keynote speaker Dave Geise offered the students five familiar lines to consider moving forward, starting with “be bold.”

“Don’t go through life timidly. The hard decisions are not easy, but they can be the best ones you will ever make,” he said, urging them to use mistakes along the way as “learning moments.”

“Number two, actions speak louder than words. Doing something as simple as returning a call, a text, an email, those are so easy, but it’s your word, your reputation. Every time you drop the ball, your reliability takes a hit,” said Geise, owner and operator of The Sign Shop since 1983.

“Number three, hard work never killed anyone. Kids, there’s work to be done. Do it. Many times, the hardest jobs you do in life will bring you the most joy. Be the person who others can rely on to get the job done,” the WACC graduate said.

“Number four, live each day to the fullest. We only have so many days in this life. Get the most out of your days, push yourself, have a life plan, life goals, and go do them,” Geise said.

“Number five, be kind,” he said, calling it the most important one to him.

“It is not hard to find examples of why this simple message is needed. Look at the daily news, the internet. How many sad stories are out there? Too many,” Geise said.

“As you go through life, be nice to people, treat everyone with respect and be kind,” he concluded.

2026 class president Olivia Miller then took to the stage to not only offer words of encouragement to her fellow graduates, but to also pass on their legacy to those that will follow in their footsteps.

“About a year ago I stood here at this podium to accept the symbol of the most advanced class in our high school, the school’s mantle. I pledged on behalf of you, to uphold its deepest meaning, such as leadership, determination and hard work. I’m very proud to say that you all have upheld these virtues in every aspect of school life,” Miller said, turning her attention to 2027 class President Madison Reidy.

“I am passing the school’s mantle onto you. Along with it comes the leadership of the school, the responsibilities of the most advanced class in the school, and the dignity of such a position,” she said.

“The mantle, as you can see, is but a piece of cloth, but there is a very large amount of South Williamsport Area educational history involved,” Miller said.

“With the passing of this, I invite you to apply yourselves as you have done, as we’ve done. The best advice we can offer you is to carry on the tradition of South, as we, as a class, have done, with some sadness, but even more eagerness,” she said.

“I, as the class president of 2026, hand this mantle over to you, Maddie, with the hope that you remember the mantle’s real name is work, and the principal material is determination,” Miller said.

“I’m happy to accept this mantle in the name of the class of 2027,” Reidy said.

“I feel strongly about the class of 2027 and therefore am accepting this mantle with the optimism that my classmates will create the same image as the class of 2026,” she said.

“There is no question that the class of 2027 has the talents and the ability to meet the challenges that may come before it,” Reidy concluded.