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Bellefonte High School graduates 194 at 2023 commencement

By BREANNA HANLEY bhanley@lockhaven.com 9 min read

BELLEFONTE -- Rogers Stadium was packed for Bellefonte Area High School's Class of 2023 graduation ceremony; family and friends gathered to honor this year's graduates and celebrate all of their accomplishments.

As the seniors came onto the field and filed into their seats, the Bellefonte Area High School Concert Band performed the processional.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by a 2018 graduate who is currently stationed at Fairford Air Base in England, Senior Airman Ethan Scicchitano.

Ethan is the brother of graduating senior Dominic James Scicchitano, who was invited to leave his seat to be reunited with his brother; they embraced on the field as the crowd cheered.

The "Star Spangled Banner" and the Alma Mater were played by the band under the direction of Band Director Caleb Rebarchak, with conductor and graduating senior Cecilia Mazzocco.

Class President and Salutatorian Davis Corman welcomed everyone to the event, cracking jokes about the heavy winds and promising that the ceremony "will be quicker than the awards ceremony" to the delight of the supporters in the crowd.

Corman spoke on memories long past, beginning with middle school experiences and moving to the present day; the speech littered with references to student shenanigans and various happenings at the school.

"We witnessed an undefeated girls swimming team go back, to back, to back district titles. Which is later replicated by our boys baseball team which is now on their way to win a state championship. Off the field, we are blown away by Cecelia Stanton's cover of 'Black Dog' by Led Zeppelin in the school's rock band," said Corman.

"Our class ends the year by setting two historical feats in the annual powderpuff game. One being that we are the first class ever to lose both years, but we're going to blame that on Mr. Diehl and Mr. Caruso. Our Cheerleading team led by Owen Seibel wins the first ever halftime performance. I can officially promise all of you, you will never see me in a 4-inch skirt again," said Corman.

After the welcome address by Corman, Superintendent Tammie Burnaford stepped up to the microphone to address the students and audience members.

"Tonight we pause on your journey through life to look back at what has been, and ahead to what might be," said Burnaford. "You have grown to be outstanding young adults, which is a testament to the support of your parents, family, friends, teachers and others you've met along the way."

"Back in 2010, when the class of 2023 entered kindergarten, I was an elementary principal. I had the honor and pleasure to welcome the new kindergarteners into Pleasant Gap Elementary School at that time," said Burnaford.

Burnaford recalled when she read a book called "Kindergarten Here I Come" to the students at Pleasant Gap Elementary and set the tone for their educational journey.

In keeping with the tradition, she read a short book "Where Are You From?" by Yamile Saied Mendez to the graduating seniors with Corman holding the book up for their view.

"This book led me to wonder what our Class of 2023 graduates will say when they are asked the inevitable question in the future," said Burnaford, who asked English teacher Jessica Lloyd to have their seniors answer the question from their current perspectives.

There were 29 different essays; all of which Burnaford either read snippets from, or read in their entirety. The students’ essays were all filled with vivid imagery and strong memories from their time at Bellefonte.

Principal Michael Fedisson was next to the podium, offering his congratulations to the graduates and welcoming their families, friends and staff members.

"If my count is correct you are the 139th graduating class of Bellefonte Area High School... There's been frustrations that came along with a lot of changes, but it reminds me how fortunate we are and how we can find inspiration and strength close to home. My hope tonight is that you find something that gives you strength when you need it most," said Fedisson.

Fedisson quoted inspirational TikTok videos about change. One of those videos featured Steve Harvey, who said, "There ain't nothing you can do about what's going to happen to you. You can't stop life from happening, but you can do something about it. Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent what you do about it."

"I wish you all the very best as you leave Bellefonte Area High School. May you have a life full of joy, happiness and good health," said Fedisson.

Valedictorian Kate Rarrick looked not to the future, but to the past in her speech. She spoke about how, in 8th grade, she gave a speech about the ways in which the things they've learned in school and in life would prepare them for high school.

"I compared high school to a mountain, one that we would climb taking our own separate paths but still trekking towards the top together. I focussed most on the feeling of accomplishment that we would feel reaching the summit of this metaphorical mountain. In doing so, I attempted to predict the emotions and mindsets that we are experiencing," said Rarrick.

"I forgot to think about the chapter that was ending," said Rarrick. "A commencement ceremony is about beginning. This beginning is most likely what you're being told to focus on. I know that everyone wants to learn about our plans, goals and dreams, and these are all very important things. But I do not think that the future is where our focus should be. I think that right now is about yesterday, and the 1,378 yesterdays that came before it since the first day of freshman year."

"Our accomplishment is not in the beginning that graduation represents, but in the journey that it took to get here, because I know that it has not been easy for any of us," said Rarrick.

Rarrick listed various struggles that she and her classmates faced during their time in school and said, "I do not think they should be forgotten or ignored. They were a very real part of everyone's journey to graduation, and overcoming them is something that is truly amazing, worthwhile and impressive. Amongst these low moments, I hope that you also experienced times of joy and happiness."

Rarrick gave her heartfelt congratulations to her fellow graduates before passing the spotlight off to Corman with a teasing, "I would like to welcome back to the stage your class president, salutatorian, first vice president of Pennsylvania FBLA and second place finisher in 7th grade biology experiment design, Davis Corman."

Though he kept his message short, sweet and littered with good humor, Corman's Salutatorian speech tugged on everyone's heartstrings as he spoke about the loss of his grandmother. He spoke strongly about the friends he'd made during his years at the high school who were at his side through all of it.

"(My grandmother) was quite literally my best friend. Someone who I love beyond what words can describe. I mention this moment in my life today not because of that sad story, but to share with you the weeks after her passing that forever shifted my outlook on life," said Corman.

He spoke about his friends who stepped up to support him unconditionally in his time of need, and stuck by his side.

"I'll never forget looking back in the pews at her funeral, seeing all of my friends including my basketball team there in support of me. I wasn't crying because I was sad, I was crying because of how lucky I was to have these individuals. This moment in my life taught me the importance of your found family. These are the individuals that you have, not through blood, but have built through bonds. My message today is simple: cherish your found family," said Corman.

Giving the commencement address were BAHS teachers, Kelley Kreiger and Jessica Lloyd, who hammed it up on stage "spilling the tea" with massive coffee mugs.

They created a list of things from high school that students should never forget, and surveyed teachers on what the most important thing to remember from their classes are.

They spoke on math concepts, science vocabulary, cooking tips and more -- but quickly admitted, "no one is going to remember any of that."

"We actually think there’s something more important for you to remember from high school," said Kreiger.

The two teachers went back and forth describing memories the other teachers gave them about their high school years -- the good times with friends, goofing off and getting a taste of independence.

"It’s not about the grades you earned, or the tests you failed. It's about the connections you've made with one another. I've seen this class support each other in all kinds of ways," said Lloyd.

"If you all take a look back at the moments from high school when you were proud, or excited, or sad, you'll think about the people who were there to share those moments. You'll think about the people you laughed with, cried with. You'll think about all of those things. It's the people you'll remember. Moving forward, surround yourself with people who will help you celebrate your victories, push you to be better and occasionally spill the tea with you," said Kreiger.

"While you're not going to remember the 28th amendment - (here, history teacher Ally Durney cut in to shout, "there are only 27!") You might not remember the things you learned in high school classes, but you'll remember the friendships," said Kreiger.

"Sometimes," said Lloyd, "your best life begins as soon as you leave high school."

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Class of 2023 by Fedisson and the presentation of diplomas by Burnaford, Fedisson, Andrew Caruso, Katrina Lee and Jon Guizar.

Caps were tossed to the wind as the ceremony was brought to a close, and Davis Corman took one last selfie on the stage.

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