HAWLEY, PA — The Wallenpaupack Area High School Class of 2025 celebrated its commencement program on Friday evening, June 13 at the high school. The event was moved from the football field to the gymnasium due to the threat of inclement weather.

As the 225 attending seniors were preparing for the processional, the excitement of the guests filing into their seats in the bleachers was evident. Accompanied by the orchestra rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the seniors entered the room and filtered into their seats. The program included a list of 247 seniors who had completed the requirements for graduation.

Wallenpaupack Area High School is unusual among area school bodies as it has moved from the traditional class ranking system, which has the top two students—the valedictorian and salutatorian—leading the list of students in the numerical ranking.

The Latin system used by most colleges, of summa cum laude (GPA of 98 and above), magna cum laude (GPA 95-97.99) and cum laude (GPA 92-94.99) was adopted by the high school and implemented in 2023. It was interesting to find that an equal number of 26 seniors fell into each of those parameters.

Also of note, there were 47 seniors listed as attaining membership in the National Honor Society.

The academic curriculum is broken down into three academies, which are designed to prepare students for college as well as for a transition into the workplace with the skills and qualifications to succeed. Students from each of the academies who wished to speak at commencement submitted applications to the principal. With the help of a selection committee, a speaker was selected from each academy.

Samantha Treppeda, Academy 1 speaker at Wallenpaupack Area High School’s 2025 graduation ceremony.

Briana Blaszczyk, Academy 2 speaker at the Wallenpaupack 2025 graduation ceremony.

Justin Blanding, Academy 3 speaker at the Wallenpaupack Area High School 2025 graduation ceremony.

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Giovanni Patire, senior class president, in his speech likened his time spent in school to being part of a garden. “Although this may seem a somber goodbye to the people around you, think of it more as a season of change in our shared garden. We may be taking root in new places, but the soil that nurtured us—our time at Wallenpaupack—will always be a part of who we are. It will remind us where we came from and maybe, someday, guide us back to one another. We grow together, side by side, and now we bloom apart. But remember: ‘Where flowers bloom, so does hope.’ ”

Samantha Treppeda, Academy 1, titled her speech “Keep Moving Forward” and reflected a few times on the class trip to Disney World. “High school has been a lot like a trip to Disney World. At times, it felt like waiting in long lines under the hot sun—frustrating, tiring and never-ending. Other times, it felt like stepping onto a thrill ride: heart-pounding, unpredictable and unforgettable. We’ve been on emotional roller coasters, fast and slow, with unexpected turns and sudden drops. But just like at Disney, we kept going—not because we knew what was ahead, but because we were curious, determined and maybe a little hungry for what came next. And along the way, we found magic in the moments we didn’t plan for.”

Briana Błaszczyk, Academy 2, summed up her outlook on the future: “Tomorrow, we step into something daunting and wonderful, freeing and terrifying; we step into the expectations of adulthood—into college, careers and dreams we haven’t even dared to imagine yet. We carry with us more than just lessons from textbooks. We carry friendships, memories and the reminder that success isn’t measured by trophies or titles, but by the people we hold close and the virtues we hold closer.”

Justin Blanding, Academy 3, expressed his thanks to the Wallenpaupack community, the late Mrs. Ann Marie Simons (Wallenpaupack Area athletic director), his family and the Class of 2025. “And to the Class of 2025: thank you for the memories, the laughter and the moments that made these years unforgettable. We didn’t just make it—we made it together. The world’s waiting. Let’s go make it ours.”

It’s the culmination of years of hard work, determination and a lifetime of memories for the seniors at Wallenpaupack Area High School at the 2025 graduation ceremony on June 13 at the high school gymnasium.

The WAHS orchestra performs at the 2025 Commencement.

A Wallenpaupack 2025 graduate returns to his seat after receiving his diploma.

The 2025 commencement program at Wallenpaupack Area High School packed the gymnasium with students, family and guests.

Lots of smiles as some of the Wallenpaupack graduates return to the gymnasium to reunite with their families after receiving their diplomas and having photos taken.

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