DEKALB JUNCTION - The only thing constant in life is change, graduating seniors at Hermon-DeKalb Central School were reminded Friday evening at their graduation ceremony.

Embrace the changes that lie ahead, Class Valedictorian Paige M. Morrill told her classmates.

“Now we have to enter into a world that is new and strange to us,” Miss Morrill said. “Change can be scary, but this is going to happen no matter what. The way I see it, you can’t run from it so you might as well embrace it. The next chapter in our lives is going to be different, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

Watched by family members and friends gathered in the school auditorium, 31 graduates received diplomas. Prior to the ceremony, guests watched a slide show featuring photographs submitted by the graduating seniors.

Brianna L. Sayer, class president, gave the introduction followed by singing of the national anthem by Amber N. Bogart, Miss Morrill and Franchesca J. Trombley. School Superintendent Ann M. Adams welcomed community members.

During her salutatorian address, Courtney A. White, said she and her felllow graduates each faced their own struggles along the way to finishing high school.

“I am proud of all of us here tonight for making it even when it seemed impossible at times,” Miss Sayer said. “The best part is we were never alone. We have teachers, parents and friends to thank for helping us along the way.”

Jan Merchant was the guest speaker and High School Principal Mark White presented 58 awards to graduating seniors.

Diplomas were presented by Robert Hance, Crystal Simmons, Anne Williams and Jennifer Warren.

Besides Miss Sayer, class officers include Nicholas M.C. Wentzel, vice president; Brady P. Whitton, secretary and Caulen W. Allen, treasurer.

The following students were awarded diplomas:

*CaulenW.Allen

*DylanM.Amo

*ElizabethA.Austin

*AlyssaT.Bacon

*AmberN.Bogart

*ZackaryT.Cleveland

*KaitlynnA.Doerr

*Gian-CarloFilippi

*TaylorR.Grant

*MariahE.Harris

*JamesC.Houck

*MeganR.LeMunyon

*CodeyR.Matthews

*PaigeM.Morrill

*JocelynM.Moulton

*JesseM.Mousaw

*JamesM.Peters

*RyanD.Porter

*BrittanyL.Rust

*BriannaL.Sayer

*ThanishaE.Scales

*ChelseaL.Streeter

*FranchescaJ.Trombley

*AngeliqueF.Villeneuve

*AnnaB.Waltersdorff

*ToriB.Warren

*AlexanderW.Watson, II

*NicholasM.Wentzel

*CourtneyA.White

*BradyP.Whitton

*KellyL.Williams

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