After all the speeches and introductory remarks, Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik and NASD School Board President David Gogel accepted the Class of 2015 on June 6.

Traditionally, the 50- year class is also in attendance. The Class of 2015 honored the Class of 1965 during the ceremony. Several members of the Class of 1965 had relatives graduating Saturday.

In Kovalchik's remarks, he compared the striking changes that occurred since 1965, relating not only to the lower cost of goods, but also to changes in how social media has changed communication.

"When I asked students what they wanted me to talk about at graduation, they didn't really have a firm idea," he said. "I told them to think about it and I would come visit them again. Students said they'd get back to me on Twitter, Facebook or a variety of other platforms. There was no need for another trip."

Kovalchik said he was most popular on Twitter during snow days with requests for school delays. To emphasize the impact and use of social media, Class of 2015 graduate Yamil Yunez took a selfie while receiving his diploma.

With the theme that life is about progress, Kovalchik noted that the only constant within the district seems to be the Thanksgiving Day football game against Catasauqua High School.

Valedictorian Shreya Bhatt, a first-generation immigrant, relayed how a trip back to the poorest neighborhoods in India inspired her to choose a career in medicine.

"The training wheels come off when we get our diplomas," added Salutatorian Boris Kobilja.

Class of 2015 officers reminisced on their four-year high school experience. Their talks took in the trepidation of freshmen to the maturing seniors.

By 6 p.m., the Class of 2015 and their parents were on the crowded roads, making their way to graduation parties and an unknown future that will get relived in 2065 when they are invited back to watch a new graduating class begin their journey.

The Class of 2015 has a good start, with the top 30 students receiving Academic Achievement Awards. Also, Jared Fantasia and Travis Weghofer, who never missed a day of school, were in the top 30.

James Morris received an outstanding student award in mathematics; Brenna Curran, Taylor Baird and Amber Saylor received recognition for their language skills; and Evan Betzenberger was named Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction based on college-level achievement in courses and exams.

The top 10 percent of the vocational-technical class also received awards for their skills. Among those mentioned receiving honors were Brandon Christman, Service Occupation Cluster, and Gregory Cory, Precision Machining.

Some students like Kylee Pavlick will serve in the National Guard.

Scholarship awards were given to more than 70 students.

Highlights included the David K. Bilheimer 1957 Scholarship award to Stephen Druckenmiller; the Dakota Galusha Memorial Scholarship to Amber Saylor; Edward Novogratz Scholarship to Megan Reed; and the Roland J. Wotring Scholarship was awarded to Corrine Datis-Cordero and Frank Lukaitis.

There were 44 award contributors for the Class of 2015.