This is a very important time of year for us here in The Press office, as we have the privilege of celebrating high school graduations with our readers and sharing photos of the events and the inspirational messages from the student speakers.

This year was an especially important one for me. My daughter graduated from Whitehall High School June 12.

It's been many years since I attended a high school graduation ceremony and I was moved by the powerful words of the students who were chosen to address their classmates. Many of these young men and women are truly wise beyond their years.

Press staff and freelancers attended nearly a dozen graduations this month. The speakers touched on many subjects. Some brought laughter; some brought tears. Here are some highlights of our coverage:

In remarks to her classmates, Parkland High School Class of 2015 President Shannon Bonner offered words of appreciation for the "keys to success" she and her classmates received on their journey through high school. She thanked teachers for the key to knowledge, administrators for the key to opportunity, guidance for the key to unlock the future, coaches and advisers for the key to passion and parents, guardians and family members for the key to their hearts.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say you have made an impact on my life in one way or another," Bonner said, on behalf of her classmates. "Ultimately we will measure our time here not in periods or semesters or years, but in friendships we have made and the memories we have together. Thank you for giving us the key to friendship."

Emmaus High School's Daniel Amankwatia, class president, spoke of three truths.

The first: "You are ready for the future."

The second: "Nobody can reach greatness on their own."

The third: "You don't have to wait for greatness."

"Never wait to be great," he said.

Marisa M. Butillo, president of the Salisbury High School Class of 2015, spoke of all the life advice she's received along the way and thanked high school administrators and faculty, classmates, friends and family for the knowledge and the memories.

"We have all influenced each other," she said.

Northwestern Lehigh School District Superintendent Dr. Mary Anne Wright told the graduates, "Take what you learned and change the world."

She reminded the graduates of the differences they have already made in the lives of family and friends.

At Northampton Area High School's graduation ceremony, salutatorian Boris Kobilja likened the elementary, middle and high school years to learning to ride a bike.

"The training wheels come off when we get our diplomas," he said.

Catasauqua High School student-selected speaker Jacalyn McCarthy reminded her peers to capitalize on their future opportunities.

"Take chances, ask questions," she said. "Live, love and grow."

Whitehall High School student speaker Photis Zographou urged his peers to remember their years together as Zephyrs and draw from that experience as they move on in life.

"We are not saying goodbye to the past, but hello to the future," he said. "Never forget where you came from."

He concluded with a quote from Abraham Lincoln: "And in the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."

Morgan Patterson spoke to her fellow Emmaus graduates about the power of change.

"Change does not have to be in a superdramatic setting, but change can be significant," she said.

Students and parents, may you now enjoy the slower post-graduation pace and make lasting summer memories. And may you embrace the change, and the chance for new memories, that September and a new season will bring.

As Patterson said so perfectly, "Write the great sequel with excitement and adventure."

Kelly Lutterschmidt

editor

Catasauqua Press

Northampton Press

Whitehall-Coplay Press