SCHS Class Night starts and ends on high note

BY HELEN B. FOSTER
Correspondent

Senior class President Melissa Kukowski opened the Susquehanna Community High School 2013 Class Night by thanking everyone for attending and sharing the seniors’ accomplishments as they approach graduation.
Kukowski introduced Principal Mark Gerchman who proudly ran through the senior class and the school’s high notes that includes that 92 percent of the class will graduate on time with scores that exceed the national average.

And, having achieved these high scores, the school was singled out by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Gerchman continued by saying there would be more than $100,000 in scholarships awarded to the graduates.

“This class has done things right, up until a few days ago,” Gerchman said as he walked off the stage.
It was apparent the usual senior class pranks involved members of the administration, Gerchman in particular.

Elizabeth Fink, Coleman Hansen, Patricia Pauswinski, Raymond Polak and Andrzej Tomczyk had the privilege of announcing the seniors and listed their accomplishments for both scholastic and athletic endeavors. They also introduced the presenters from the various organizations that generously donated to the 76 scholarships.

These scholarships included the Claire Williams O’Neil memorial scholarship, $40,000 each given to two graduates; the Fiaschi nursing scholarship; those given in memory of local residents, alumni and employees of the district; and even McDonald’s which included a Youth Achievement Award given to eighth grade student Evan Haley.

The graduates also received student council, national honor society, Envirathon, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army certificates, pins and athletic scholar plaques.

Melissa Kukowski and Chelsea Matta prepared and presented a slide show of their fellow classmates.

The highlight near the end of class night was a visit from Col. Daniel Braun, an admission representative from the U.S. Military Academy preparatory school to recognize Andrzej Tomczyk who has been accepted at USMAPS.

Col. Braun said he learned a lot about the Susquehanna area by the great number of support letters for Andrzej received by the admissions office at West Point.

He asked Audrey Sullivan to come forward to receive a West Point Mother’s pin. She has been a surrogate mother to Andrzej and his younger brother since the untimely death of Andrzej’s mother.

Braun concluded his presentation by saying, the education the senior will receive at West Point will be the best this country has to offer.

The traditional Mantel Presentation was by Class of 2013 Vice President Kyleigh Fiske who passed the mantel to Alexis Roe, Class of 2014.

Clayton Hansen performed the processional and recessional and senior performances were by Derek Case and Lindsey Glidden.

Ushers, members of the junior class, were Sal Pelicci, Jon Felter, Jon Haines, Brandon Soden.