FINAL SENDOFF
Virtual ceremony caps a week of events for 1,028 graduates
At long last, North Penn High School’s class of 2020 can now call themselves alumni.
Students across the district ceremonially turned their tassels from right to left Thursday night at the close of the district’s firstever virtual commencement ceremony.
“For us, in a way, our lack of closure is our closure. Loss illuminates our feelings, and makes us realize what was important to us,” said senior class valedictorian Tony Xu.
“The world we go back to may never be the same again. Whether it’s the lost jobs and opportunities, or the fear of attending Zoom
University, let us face these challenges by bringing out the best within ourselves: clarifying our priorities, while spreading goodwill, creating bridges with each other, with resilience, empathy and sacrifice.”
Xu was one of several speakers who recorded messages beforehand, which were broadcast by the high school’s NPTV channel Thursday as students and families shared their “Light the Knight” photos from home celebrations across the district.
“On March 12, exactly 13 weeks ago, at two o’clock, I announced that it would be a good idea to take everything you may need home with you,” said high school Principal Pete Nicholson.
“I had no idea that March 12 would be the very last
— NPHS Class of 2020 valedictorian Tony Xu
“For us, in a way, our lack of closure is our closure. Loss illuminates our feelings, and makes us realize what was important to us.”
— Senior Select Samantha Kendikian
“It may have taken us over 55 hours and seven days to record everyone, but there was no way that we were not going to be there for every single graduate.”
— Superintendent Curt Dietrich
“It’s not algebra, or geometry, or even the periodic table. North Penn teaches you what it means to be a part of something greater than yourself. North Penn teaches you what mistakes look like, and in turn what resilience can look like in the face of those mistakes.”
“I don’t have the answers, but I know that you do. I have absolute and total faith that you, the class of 2020, will change the world, answer the tough questions, and bring honor to yourselves, your families, and the North Penn School District.” — NPHS Principal Pete Nicholson
time the class of 2020 would set foot in North Penn High School, as students and as Knights,” he said.
Since the statewide shutdown of all schools the following day, students have continued learning online while high school and district administrators planned the ceremonies that ended Thursday night. Last week nearly all of the 1,028 students in the graduating class took turns driving through the high school’s Crawford Stadium to pick up their diplomas in front of friends and family, while being cheered and congratulated by teachers, staff, and administrators including Superintendent Curt Dietrich.
“It was very important to all of us on the team who planned the commencement exercises to provide a truly unique graduation, which celebrated you in an extra-special way,” Dietrich said.
“It may have taken us over 55 hours and seven days to record everyone, but there was no way that we were not going to be there for every single graduate,” he said.
Each graduate’s stroll across the stage was spliced together with pre-recorded speeches from Nicholson, school board President Tina Stoll, and four student leaders, then broadcast Thursday night with a live conclusion by Dietrich and high school assistant principals Matthew Edwards and Amy Linn instructing students on when to turn their tassels. Each speaker reflected on what they hope the students take with them, from a year unlike any other.
“If there is one lesson we hope you will take from this experience, as you move on to the next phase in your lives, it is the importance of advocating for yourself, and making sure that your voices are heard. The world needs to hear from you now, more than ever,” Stoll said.
“You advocated for yourselves, and you let us know, in no uncertain terms, that a virtual ceremony was not going to be enough. That you wanted to follow the tradition every other class before you was able to follow, and that was to walk across Crawford Stadium, and go onto the stage, and receive your diploma,” she said.
Class of 2020 Salutatorian Samuel Lee said his three favorite memories from his time at the high school were winning his first tennis match, the junior prom, and victories with the school’s Science Olympiad team — and each graduate has their own.
“Each of us are different in so many ways: whether it’s our experiences, our hobbies, favorite foods, favorite music, or even your favorite character in a book. It’s these countless differences that make us human,” he said.
“And more importantly, these differences ultimately shape you into the unique person you are today,” he said, whether one is skilled in sports, art, scholarship, or anything else: “the key point is that we’re all different, and each of us has our own unique strengths, weaknesses, and passions.”
Senior Select Samantha Kendikian, chosen by a panel of teachers through an application process, said she knows every student has had moments of wondering whether their lessons in the classroom will matter — for her, it was a junior year chemistry class — but it’s the lessons outside the classrooms that may stay with students longer.
“It’s not algebra, or geometry, or even the periodic table. North Penn teaches you what it means to be a part of something greater than yourself. North Penn teaches you what mistakes look like, and in turn what resilience can look like in the face of those mistakes,” she said.
“North Penn teaches you what a role model looks like, and how to surround yourself with those who inspire you. North Penn teaches you about the world outside of yourself, exposing you to countless others, some who look, act, and behave just like you, and others who don’t,” Kendikian said; “My hope is that you will ponder what invaluable teachings North Penn has given to you, and how you’re going to apply that knowledge on your journey to become the best version of yourself.”
And senior class present Sufyan Davis-Arrington recalled a quote from poet Maya Angelou he saw on his first day at North Penn that will stay with him forever.
“I’ve learned people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” he said.
“We must strive to leave our footprints in the sand, so that, when we feel the need to do so, we can turn around and remember where we have come from, and so that we blaze a trail for subsequent generations that will help make for a better world than the one we currently have today.”
Nicholson said each student’s name will be displayed on the high school marquee for two five-minute windows starting on Monday, and schedules of those appearances can be found on the high school’s website. The class of 2020 will have a legacy of sports titles and musical and theater shows left unfinished in the spring, but others already accomplished in the fall.
“I have to say, it’s been a banner year for North Penn High School — as in, we’re going to need to order more banners for the auditorium lobby,” he said
Students spent 13 years looking forward to the spring of 2020, working through the district’s 13 elementary schools, and three middle schools, and by early March the only thing unusual about the year was the lack of snow days, until the week everything changed.
“It was an exciting time, as we all prepared for everything that spring of your senior year has to offer. Then, well, a funny thing happened: the wheels fell off,” Nicholson said.
Over the past three months, the students may have had more questions than answers, but the principal said he’s confident the graduates will start working on those solutions soon.
“I don’t have the answers, but I know that you do. I have absolute and total faith that you, the class of 2020, will change the world, answer the tough questions, and bring honor to yourselves, your families, and the North Penn School District. Now, go out there and put the wheels back on.”