ABINGTON HEIGHTS

CLARKS SUMMIT — Despite the constant rainy weather Northeast Pennsylvania has been experiencing lately, the precipitation took a holiday for the Abington Heights High School’s 109th annual commencement program. The Class of 2025 was able to enjoy the graduation outdoors at the Pitt on Wednesday, June 11.

The AH Marching Comets, led by Mike Lesnesky, performed rock music such as Aerosmith’s “Dream On” as the graduates took the stage. During a recent competition called “Music at the Parks,” the band took first place against eight other school districts from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. They had the highest rating of Superior. They were also awarded the Best Overall Band Award from amongst all bands in attendance.

The speeches began with welcoming remarks from graduate Brock Pentasuglio. He listed the accomplishments his fellow graduates made while overcoming the aftermath of the pandemic. He included the class coming together during their junior year for the upcoming scavenger hunt leading to the victory of Gym Class Heroes as well as them bringing back the bonfire.

“Beyond our accolades and achievements, I believe our class shares one of the closest bonds our school has seen in recent years,” he said. “It’s as though we had an agreement after the pandemic to move forward but together. We didn’t just follow the path. We remapped it.”

Treasurer Joseph Healey Jr. introduced class president Jack Farrell, who had won track and field district championships and raised $80,000 for local cancer patients.

“No matter what Jack gets himself into over the next four years and beyond, I can guarantee that he will continue to inspire his community and the next generation of leaders here at Abington Heights through his work,” he said. “He will continue to earn the respect of his peers and more importantly through his sheer ambition, he will continue to make his wonderful family proud.”

In his speech, Farrell recalled his last time at the Pitt Field when he celebrated the football district championship victory. He said that he has been keeping tabs to share a speech but realized that it requires thought, reflection, and most importantly, time.

“Time is a gift,” he said. “In fact, I’ll even dare to say it is one of the most precious gifts. Why? Because time is a gift that once spent, you can never get back.”

Farrell mentioned that this moment of time can be viewed as a sad ending, but he sees it as embarking on a new beginning.

“As we move forward and this amazing moment becomes a lasting memory, always remember where you came from and use your time wisely,” he said.

Student council president Rachel Stopper introduced salutatorian Sarah Hoban. She announced that Hoban has been a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Spanish Club while working multiple jobs and volunteering once a week for the past year in traditional health care.

In her speech, Hoban encouraged the life lesson of not letting a number, especially a test score, define you.

“A number can never represent all that you are, all that you can accomplish,” she said. “The lessons learned outside the classroom are far more important. You need to find out who you are, what you want to spend time on. You are in control and have the choice to follow what you love or to settle. Don’t let anyone make that decision for you.”

Sophia Policare introduced her classmate since Waverly Elementary School Maura Pivirotto as this year’s valedictorian. She listed Pivirotto’s achievements in academics and sports such as four-year soccer letter, four-year lacrosse letter as well as NEIU Scholar of the Year. She said that she spent a week on a service trip to Guatemala.

In Pivirotto’s valedictorian speech, she recited a personal story in which she watched her treehouse she had during her childhood burn to the ground. That’s when she realized her childhood was coming to an end.

“Just because something ends doesn’t mean it leaves you,” she said. “Because after the smoke cleared from the ashes, a piece of my treehouse remained standing untouched by the flames. All four handprints — blue, green, red, and yellow — frozen in time still bright as ever. She encouraged her fellow graduates to hold on to the child in us because everything they accomplish should be for them. The version of ourselves that lingers in our memories aren’t pieces we leave behind. They make up who we are and who we will be.”

Abington Heights High School Class of 2025

Albert James Abda

Conner Charles Abel

Regan Michelle Allison

Kimora Marie Anglin

Susan Ruth Arp

Teresa Michelle Atkinson-Moore

Mackenzie Linda Augis

Griffith Squire Ayimadu

Alana Rose Baker

Sloan Taylor Ballman

Justin Michael Barahona

Emma Michele Barrish

Aubrey Lynn Bauman

Connor Beck

Evan James Bernardi

Owen Ronald Bernardi

Jessie Ryan Bettelli

Robert Bingham

Harrison Anthony Birch

Carson Mark Bird

Akeela Reyanna Black

Mary Elise Booth

Siena Lynn Bossi

Gabriella Helene Bourcier

Shane Timothy Brower

Georgia Grace Butala

Anais Sophia Butovich

Alejandro Jesus Cano

Stephen Henry Hunter Cantner

Allison Helen Cardonick

Azella Leigh Carpenter

Kaitlyn Elizabeth Carr

Nicholas Anthony Chapin

Mehaghni Chaudhury

Matthew Chen

Tyler Andrew Chernin

Anthony Christiano Chillari

Cole DeWilde Christian

Sydney Sharon Clark

Liam Patrick Clarke

Andrew James Clinebell

Benjamin Michael Colarossi

Marguerite Elizabeth Coleman

Brennan William Connor

Nathan Douglas Curry

Madison Pauline Czaja

Keira Starr Daniels

Shay Lynn Daniels

Evan James Davis

Annabelle Marie Dennis

Gianna Pauline DePaolo

Bryon Keith Dickson III

Chloe Dong

Makaela Grace Duggan

Jane Mary Evans

Luke Evans

Isabel Marie Ewing

John Scott Farrell Jr.

Liam Patrick Fick

Mia Sara Fischer

Gianna Italia Fisne

Lucius Xavier Fitch

John Mehalchick Flynn

Mckenzie Haley Flynn

Alyssa Corrine Freda

Yannis Stelios Galanakis

Ivanna Skye Garcia

Cash Lee Garrison

Brady Matthew Georgia

Aiden William Gercken

Sadie Elizabeth Gilbert

Isabella Rose Golushka

Amelia Giselle Gonzalez

Sophia Rose Gowarty

Julia Marie Monica Gowka

Alicia Lynn Goyette

Rylea Michelle Griffiths

Ethan Paul Grives

Alexander Michael Hanyon

Abigail Grace Harshbarger

Muhammad Hashir

Conor James Hatton

Joseph Timothy Healey Jr.

Logan Raymond Heaney

Brian Sherwood Heard

Elizabeth Kaye Henkels

Emilie Rose Hettes

Michael Joseph Hiller

Emily Gertrude Hoban

Sarah Theodora Hoban

Tyler Martin Hobbs-Panko

Ayla Nicole Holgate

Trevor David Hollis

Peter James Hollister

Lukas James Homet

Rebecca Marie Hopkins

Ethan John Horutz

Madison Rose Howell

Hannah Elizabeth Hughes

Andrew Bennett Illian

Katie Lynn James

Dylan Li Jaramillo

Paige Madison Jones

Trevor Timothy Jones

Armaan Singh Kang

Gavin Joseph Kareha

Claire Katherine Karsnak

Matthew Timothy Kearney

Mia Jane Kearney

Ryan Timothy Kearney

John Paul Kehoe IV

Cade Matthew Kelleher

Christopher John Kelleher

Logan Darrell Kerrigan

Justin Kim

Michael André-Bachman Klamp

Mason Anthony Klimas

Andrew David Klotz

Mallory Eleece Knott

Myles William Knott

Ethan Luke Kochmer

Eion Patrick Kollar

Sean Christian Kollar

Reagan Cate Kotchick

Dylan Richard Krance

Jacob Michael Krehel

Hunter Madison Kresge

Madison Elizabeth Kreutzberger

Rebekah Rose Kroptavich

Ava Kulenich

Thomas Clayton LaCoe

Alexis Rylee Laird

Sierra Megan Lavelle

Brandon Carter Lezinski

Derek William Locker

Lauren Susan Lockett

Lorena Eva Lozano

Robert Charles Lucas

Maeve Juliet Ludka

Cassie Ann MacPherson

Michael Gregorio Maldonado

Praneel Mallaiah

Giuseppe James Marinaro

Catalina Martha Matthies

Ja’Zion Nazir Micah McArthur

Madison Kyla McDonald

Andrew John McGrail

Brady McHugh

Hana Aileen McLaughlin

Owen James McVety

Ian Emmanuel de la Cruz Mehr

Jackson James Melville

Aniyah Rosalinda Mendez

Skylar Nichole Mercado

Hamza Ibrahim Mirza

Dil Birjoo Mistry

Kayleigh Beckwith Mitchell

Isabella Lily Moher

Kara Rose Molloy

Cadence Elizabeth Moore

Nathan William Morgan

Reese Celia Morgan

Brayden Michael Moylan

Jesuam David Muentes-Caraballo

Bernadine Ann Mullin

Jennifer Rose Munley

Robert William Munley IV

Drew Ryan Musgrave

Kristen Anne Neher

Anna Ni

Paxton James Nolan

Lily Maria Norton

Sarah Ann O’Brien

Cecelia Ann O’Malley

Ethan Nicholas Opeil

Oladapo-Ireayo Benjamen Osuntokun Jr.

Gavin Michael Padula

Hannah Grace Pallman

Adam Stephen Paranich

Siya Jaymesh Patel

Brock Martin Pentasuglio

Hunter Scott Pentasuglio

Tate Alfred Pentasuglio

Evan Ross Petalver

Domenic Anthony Peters

Maura Christine Pivirotto

Sophia Michele Policare

Matthew Stanley Poplawski

Gabriella Sophia Potis

Julianna Kate Purcell

Aiden Nicholas Quaranta

Jackson William Ray

Baeddan Scott Reese

Mary Lynne Reese

Carly Edwards Regan

Lucero Yuleini Reyes

Asiel Winston Richards

Zachary James Riggall

Johnathan James Robbins

Brandon David Rodrigues

Derrick-Jesse Nathaniel Rogers

Giselle Irais Romero

Lily Marie Rozzi

Mason Albert Sandly

Sophia Giovanna Santarsiero

Angelo James Santoro

Franco John Scandale

Elizabeth Grace Schneider

Tomara Amor Seid

Samyuktha Shanmugavadivel

Ava Shedlauskas

Celia Elizabeth Sheeran

John Paul Shelley Jr.

Hannah Siddiqui

Gabriella Sona Singh

Karmanpreet Singh

Noah Anthony Skrutski

Luciano Harrison Smith

Gabrielle Antoinette Snyder

Aidan Francis Souza

Joshua Thomas Souza

Seamus Michael Spangenberg

Benjamin William Specht

Lauren Elizabeth Stalica

Anthony Joseph Stanco Jr.

Elizabeth Kelley Stanley

Savannah Catherine Staples

Cooper Jonathan Stewart

Rachel Angeline Stopper

Dexter Mikula Sullivan

Lillie Aleatrice Suraci

George Frederick Sutton

Luke Edward Swank

Shawn Michael Theodore Jr.

Marli Rebecca Tinkelman

Victoria Amelia Tomaino

Julia Ellen Torquato

Valentina Sarah Elizabeth Vasicak-Doran

Dominic Henry Vergnetti III

Emma Wagner

Madeleine Walsh

Jacob Lee Walters

LeAnna Marie Waters

Connor Michael Watkins

Julia Ann Weiland

Shea Grace Wells

Ava Patricia Whalen

Logan Carter Williams

Isabelle Jean Wilmot

Ella Renee Wilson

Andrés Javier Wisenburn

Sylvan Wu

Gracie Katherine Young

Keith Mitchell Yusinski

Jeremeh Zafra

John Paul Zafra

Ice En Zeng

Brooke Marie Zimmer