Wyoming Valley West graduates cheered into the future
By Patrick Sweet
Staff Writer
K I N G S T O N — W hy
bring an airhorn to a high
school graduation ceremo-
ny when you can bring a
bullhorn?
At the top of the Spartan
Stadium bleachers during
the Wyoming Valley West
graduation ceremony on
Thursday, a huddle of
sophomore and junior
Wyoming Valley West stu-
dents exploded into a
c a c o p h o n o u s w ave o f
sirens, horns, pops and
bullhorn-amplified con-
gratulations as Zach Mar-
cin accepted his diploma.
It was loud enough to
turn the majority of heads
in the stadium.
Sophomore Adam Wal-
litsch yelled “Marcin”
through a megaphone as
Marcin crossed the plat-
form.
“He’s a good friend of
mine,” Wallitsch said. “ I
wanted to make him hap-
py.”
Marcin, one of 354 stu-
dents who graduated, lost
his mother to breast can-
cer last year. The tragedy
FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010
10 – THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
WB_VOICE - CVDAILY - 10 - 06/11/10
CLASS OF 2010
354 Graduates
Valedictorian: Daniel Rish
Salutatorian: Erika Green
Class Officers
President: Taylor
DelVecchio
Vice-President: Dylan Fry
Secretary: Nicole Thomas
Treasurer: Daniel Rish
deeply affected him, Wyo-
ming Valley West French
teacher Angela Powis said,
but he showed his charac-
ter by continuing to excel
academically and persever-
ing.
“Early on, you knew
there was something
wrong,” Powis said. “But,
he shows how you can sur-
vive and succeed.” DAVE SCHERBENCO / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
Marcin is one of 42 Wyoming Valley West graduates Amy Labashosky, Kelly Walsh, Ellen Hoffman, Alexa Ryncavage and
National Honor Society Sara Hodakowski get their picture taken prior to the ceremony by teacher Karen Wills.
students and one of 32
recipients of the Presiden- embodies the maturity and of attending and playing and Jim McGovern, were a Maureen McGovern said.
tial Award for Academic excellence of the class: football for the U.S. Mili- little wary of the idea of McGovern ships out to
Excellence in the class that We s t p o i n t - b o u n d A . J. tary Academy. their son entering the mili- Fort Monmouth in Ocean-
Principal Erin Keating McGovern. “I’ve always wanted to tary during a time of war, port, N.J. in early July.
touted as mature and capa- McGovern, an all-star serve in the military,” though. He’ll attend a military prep
ble of doing great things. center, turned down offers McGovern said, “and I’ve “We are going from school for one year before
Other than Marcin, Keat- to play football at Colgate always wanted to play col- being tentative about entering the academy.
ing pointed to one other University and Ivy League lege football.” what’s happening to a little
student in particular who schools to follow his dream Mom and dad, Maureen excited, little nervous,” psweet@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2117
WB_VOICE/PAGES [T10] | 06/10/10 22:56 | SUPERIMPWB