Mertz Middle School

Urged to “level up,” to build on the success represented by their completion of high school, the Class of 2022 at Vincent High School stood Wednesday on what commencement speaker Felicity Springer called a “lauching pad,” ready to begin a new life chapter “expecting good results.”

212 seniors at VHS received diplomas during the graduation exercise held at the high school auditorium.

“This moment is nothing less than a launching pad for you to go get that which is yours,” said Springer, a member of the Nittanyville City Council. “There are measures of success that have your name on it, but it’s up to you to go and get it. Focus on your goals and don’t let anything deter you. Keep leveling up. Be great. Prepare to write a new story in the chapter of your life.”

By asking the graduates to “level up,” Springer invoked a phrase that, over the past three years, has become shorthand in the school district for its commitment to the concept of continuous improvement and the perseverance required to make that concept a reality. A group of seniors who have had their high school careers interrupted by hurricanes, floods and a global pandemic has already met the requirement, she said.

“You are more than a survivor; you are actually an overcomer,” Springer told the class. “Quitting is not an option for you, because quitters never overcome and overcomers never quit. You’ve proven to us you have the ability to overcome because you’re sitting here. You’re sitting in the seat of success.”

Along with courage and kindness, she advised the graduates to pack one more important trait “as you prepare for the next leg” – resilience. “Maintain the ability to bounce back. Resolve in life that you’re either up or that you’re getting up.”

A member of the graduating class, Ariana Gomez, was honored as Outstanding Senior with an award presented by principal Steven Smithers. The commencement ceremony also included a Rite of Passage exercise for the school’s rising ninth graders.

 “We’ve been together for a long time,” Smithers told the graduates, “so as you graduate today I am reflecting on all the hard work and determination that have brought you to this point in your life. What once was a dream has come true.”