ELIZABETHVILLE - Before a power outage altered their 49th commencement Thursday, Upper Dauphin High School graduates had an opportunity to hear from a Dauphin County state legislator and also remember one of their classmates who had passed away.
Rep. Sue Helm, R-104, in her keynote address, urged the graduates to set a lifelong goal of completing quality work.
"Quality is a key element of success," Helm said.
She used Milton S. Hershey as an example of someone who struggled with two failed companies before his third caramel business succeeded and he eventually launched his chocolate empire.
"Give them quality, that's the best kind of advertising," she said, quoting from Hershey.
She challenged graduates to take risks, sets goals, dare to go the extra mile and to choose quality in all that they do.
"The future belongs to you. Take good care of it," she said.
Helm is the first woman to serve in the legislature in Dauphin County history and is currently in her fourth term.
In addressing his peers, valedictorian Thomas Andrew Margetanski joked that if he could be valedictorian, then almost anyone could. He thanked his parents for their continued support and reminded graduates, "Academics truly aren't everything. You need to be social, brave and determined to make a name for yourself. ... No matter what you choose to do in life, always make it classy."
Margetanski, 18, is a son of Kristi and Drew Peterson, Lykens; and Thomas Margetanski, Lykens. He plans to attend Penn State University, University Park, to major in petroleum and natural gas engineering.
Salutatorian Whittni R. Reisch, meanwhile, encouraged her classmates to believe "nothing is impossible."
In her address, Reisch remembered a lost classmate.
"When we lost our fellow classmate, Derek Kaltreider, we came together as the Class of 2014 in ways that I'm sure many thought was impossible," she said. "We could have let this destroy our class, but instead we faced it head on. ... We are unified now in such a tight bond and I know that Derek is with us and is proud of what we have become."
Whittni, 18, is a daughter of David and Kathy Reisch, Lykens. She intends to major in music education at Lebanon Valley College.
Class officers who also played a part in the commencement exercises included President Ian Stence, Vice President Brandon Guo, Secretary Hannah Fox, Treasurer Brandon Platzer and Historian Laura Felix. Ronald E. Hamme served as faculty marshal.
The high school band and the Trojanaires offered musical and vocal selections throughout the ceremony as hundreds of supporters filled the stadium at the UDA Athletic Field.
School Board President David A. Barder bid congratulations to the class, noting he had a unique perspective, from being a student, to a faculty member, to a parent of UDA graduates and finally, a school director.
When Superintendent Evan P. Williams and High School Principal and Grand Marshal Dermot M. Garrett were about to offer remarks prior to the distribution of diplomas, there was a power outage which left the speakers without a working microphone. The outage was apparently caused by an emergency as sirens blared and rescue vehicles drove past.
The audience sat patiently and quietly as student marshal Shelli A. Casner and Garrett took turns loudly announcing graduates' names without any microphone, while Williams and Barder assisted in the diploma distribution. There were 99 graduates, according to the commencement program. The Class of 2014 had requested a dignified service and asked the audience to refrain from applauding until all diplomas had been delivered. The crowd respected graduates' wishes, keeping hushed during that portion of the program.