In previous years, Pottsville Area High School recognized its honor students and introduced the school year's valedictorian and salutatorian on the Sunday before graduation at Class Day held in the school auditorium.
This year, the district replaced Class Day with three events. The first was a ceremony Wednesday in the courtyard of the high school at North 16th Street and Elk Avenue, live music and a catered dinner in the high school cafeteria.
"I thought this was a good way to bring more people out. Class Day doesn't bring as many people anymore. It was a nice thing that the school did," said Nicole Brittany Buleza, who was named valedictorian of the Pottsville Area Class of 2014 at the event.
The salutatorian is Rachel Jaqueline Shields.
More than 75 people gathered to honor the class's 23 honor students at the first "Pottsville Area Honor Graduate Ceremony and Dinner," according to Matthew Saporito, a long-term substitute at Pottsville Area and a member of the event's development committee.
"We had waning interest in Class Day. There weren't a lot of people in attendance last year. So we wanted to try something new. We'll try it and see," high school Principal Tiffany Reedy said.
In the previous tradition of Class Day, the entire senior class gathered the Sunday before graduation at the high school auditorium and National Honor Society cowls, and awards from school clubs and organizations and community scholarships were announced.
District Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, who attended Wednesday night's event with members of the school board, wasn't sure how long Class Day had been a tradition, but said it was in place when he graduated with honors from Pottsville Area in 1986.
This year, the Class Day awards will be announced at three events, Reedy said.
"Tonight, we are honoring the members of the National Honor Society, as well as the Vo-Tech National Honor Society students," Reedy said.
Those students, dressed in their caps and gowns, marched from the high school cafeteria, outside to the courtyard for a 20-minute ceremony in which they received their honor cowls. Katrina Whalen, a Pottsville Area sophomore, played electronic keyboard as Sara Leibel, a Pottsville Area sophomore, sang the Alma Mater.
"I thought it was nice to have it outside, refreshing. And I'd been to Class Day before and it was a lot longer," senior Adalie Pauline Zanis, one of the members of the honor society, said.
The caterer for Wednesday night's event was Thomas Wood, Pottsville. While the honor students ate for free, the price for guests was $12.50 per person, Reedy said.
"We'll give out all school-based organizations and sports at the farewell assembly on Friday to generate some more interest among our students. And we'll announce community-based awards, memorial awards, etcetera, will be given out at graduation," Reedy said.
The 244 members of Pottsville Area High School's Class of 2014 will turn their tassels and become graduates June 2, according to Jan Kurtek, administrative assistant to the high school principal.
Commencement will begin at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Veterans Memorial Stadium behind the high school at 16th Street and Elk Avenue. If it rains, the event will be moved to Martz Hall, according to Kurtek.