Cassadaga Valley High School Class of 2017 Valedictorian Kasey Crandall addresses his fellow classmates.

SINCLAIRVILLE — “On behalf of my class, thank you to everyone who was there for us when we needed you,” said Cassadaga Valley High School Class of 2017 Valedictorian Kasey Crandall to a packed auditorium of students, faculty, family and other well-wishers during Friday’s commencement ceremony. “We like to think we did it by ourselves, but if we said that, we’d all be lying. Without the tremendous support that we have received, we never would have made it through the last four years.”

Crandall’s gracious, respectful words seemed to exemplify the “call to integrity” stressed in the commencement address delivered by Cassadaga Valley High School Class of 1992 Valedictorian John Harms.

Harms, who is currently Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Messiah College, challenged the Cassadaga Valley graduates to endeavor to reach beyond the routines of what comes next, and to ask themselves, “To what are you called?”

“You’ve built a foundation in the sciences, mathematics, history, English, agriculture, foreign language, a trade, even music,” Harms said. “Now what? I challenge you to hold fast to three deeper calls. A call to wonder, a call to love and a call to integrity.”

Salutatorian Sage Frank injected some lightheartedness into the evening during her speech by suggesting that “in the future, (the school should) have the class clown make the graduation speech,” because “(valedictorians and salutatorians) don’t particularly like to get up in front of people to make speeches.”

Frank took a more serious tone at the end of her speech by challenging her peers to strive to personify respect and personal responsibility.

“If we treat people with respect even when we disagree, we could bring less drama into a world that needs less drama,” Frank said. “If we’d all work hard and stop expecting others to do everything for us, we will be a generation that can accomplish great things. “

Principal Scot Stutzman congratulated the Class of 2017.

“I know that you are prepared to handle whatever endeavor you have chosen,” said Stutzman. “Whether it be college, trade school, joining the military or going into the workforce, may your future be everything that you want it to be. I’m honored to have known you for such a short time as your principal. Enjoy this moment in your life. You’ve earned it.”