Principal Scot Stutzman began the celebration by thanking the parents, teachers and school board. Then, he turned to the students and said “Before we begin … I turn to you and say, ‘We’re proud of you’.”

Next to take the spotlight was CVCS Salutatorian, Julia Anderson, to give her Address. Anderson was originally scheduled to graduate in the Class of 2019, but chose to combine her junior and senior years to graduate early in the same class as her brother, Ben. Not only did she do so, but she was able to earn the honor of the Class Salutatorian. After telling her story of her journey to become part of the Class of 2018, Anderson said, “I’m honored to stand before you all today as the Salutatorian of Cassadaga Valley Central School, Class of 2018.”

Anderson said she had trouble finding a topic for her speech, and acknowledged that being known as “Ben’s little sister” made it hard to write about experiences with those in her class. Anderson said she wanted to “stray from some big, long, boring, inspirational speech.” Anderson said, “The truth is, you probably won’t remember what I’m saying. You’ll probably forget almost everything you’ve learned here, but I bet as you look around, you can remember a certain interaction with each one of your peers. I bet you’ll remember the one who helped you pick up the books you dropped, the ones who sat next to you at lunch on the first day of school, or that Mr. Stutzman refused to use a microphone during assemblies.” Anderson went on to say, “The facts you learn in high school about George Washington being the first president or that 2x+3=7 when x=2 are not what you will remember from your time here — it will be who you interacted with and what they made you feel.” Anderson ended her address by saying, “If you remember anything from my speech today, please remember this — the way you treat others and yourself is what sets you apart in how you will be remembered. Forgive the people who are the hardest to forgive. Spread joy when you have every reason to be upset. Be honest, even when a lie could save you the trouble. Succeed, despite everyone who said you would never make it. You will be remembered for this, even after the memory of your appearance fades from the minds of those you passed and crossed. The one act you might not remember, good or bad, may be the one act they’ll never forget.”

Next to speak was Joshua Jacobs, Class of 1993 Valedictorian of CVCS. Jacobs began by congratulating the graduates, saying, “This celebration is about you, your future and your accomplishments,” before he asked the crowd for a round of applause for the graduating class. Jacobs acknowledged that Anderson may be right after all, as he admitted, “I have to confess that I have absolutely zero recollection — none whatsoever — of who delivered the Class of 1993’s Commencement Address. I can’t recall if it was a man or a woman, if the speech was short or long, or even a single shred of the content of the message that was delivered.”

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Titus Miller receives his diploma.

Jacobs gave a speech focused on seven values: performance, leadership, quality, integrity, innovation, independence and the individual. He admitted that, “at least a small piece of that message was intended for two very special young ladies in the audience tonight,” in reference to his daughters. Jacobs ended his address by surprising one graduate with a $500 scholarship award presented by his company — Corning Inc. — for embodying the values he described. The student that CVCS teachers and administrators selected for the award was Savanna Nickerson, who will be attending Alfred State College in the fall.

The night’s final address was made by CVCS Valedictorian Mariana Waite. She spoke of how years ago, she was involved in a fifth grade musical titled “Go West,” and how that experience compared to Friday’s. Waite said, “Now we sit, seven years later, all together again on the stage, but this time, we’ve traded in our cowboy hats and exchanged them for a graduation cap.” Waite called it, “a symbol of hard work, determination, perseverance, and lots and lots of Google searches.”

Waite later proclaimed, “Our time spent here has prepared us to branch out and show the rest of the world that greatness can come from anywhere, even a small-town school such as our own.” She later thanked her parents and spoke to how everyone’s parents have put them in position to succeed. Waite said, “I have noticed a common theme in our class: Support. Whether it be a Friday night football game, the annual musical, or a silly game in our school’s pep rally, we are always there for our classmates, cheering each other on.” She finished by saying, “This class is special, and I truly hope we have made more of a positive impact on our school, just as it did for us,” followed by a message to never settle for what is comfortable or easy.

Finally, students were given their diplomas by Superintendent Charles Leichner and Board President Jeanne Oag. The Students had personalized messages — some from teachers, others from family members — broadcast through the speakers as they were called to receive their diploma. One student — Athlete of the Year award recipient Daniel Torres — stopped to take a selfie while on stage.

One thing is for certain after Friday night — whether the words from the speeches will be remembered years from now or not, the students of Cassadaga Valley Central School will always remember their time in high school and the night they received their diploma.

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Savanna Nickerson receives her diploma.

Twitter: @bradencarmen

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen CVCS Students stand after receiving their diplomas.