June 6, 2013

It was a day of celebration as more than 300 Unionville High Seniors became UHS graduates. Grads, family members and school official packed the Bob Carpenter Center on June 5 to celebrate the school’s 90 commencement.

Principal Paula Massanari told the class of 2013 that while they have been influenced by teachers, they have influenced — and will continue to influence — teachers and others in the future.

She said some of the more significant moments during the past school year included one student initiating a “Random Acts of Kindness” week, and how many students wrote notes of appreciation to teachers.

One of those notes was shared: “I wish I could have you [for a teacher] again.”

Massanari told the graduates to stay positive and give positive compliments, “real” ones.

“Your life is enriched telling people what’s good about them,” she said. “Have an attitude of gratitude.”

Superintendent John Sanville reminded the class of world events that have taken place during their four years at UHS and used one — the final flight of the space shuttle —to make a point.

He pointed to the history of manned space flight from the time of when people knew the original Mercury 7 astronauts by name to a time when space flight “looks easy, but it’s not.”

Sanville told the class to continue questioning, examining and discovering.

“The world needs you…Have some fun in the sun, but keep your eyes on the prize,” he said, calling the Class of 2013 “one of a kind.”

Students took center stage too, even before accepting their diplomas.

Graduate Jeffrey Seigel, a special needs student, spoke about starting UHS with the same dreams, hopes and emotions that every other student had. He thanked teachers and classmates for their help and encouragement over the years. Seigel got strong cheers when he reminded his classmates that he had the best 3-point shot on his URA basketball team and that he’d be attending the University of Delaware.

Also speaking was Evan Dupuis who called the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District a “gateway to achievement.”

What the class got from their education, he said, was that while being told to follow their dreams, they should remember that dreams can change and that failures don’t have to be permanent.

“Falling isn’t a failure, but failing to get up is.”

Dupuis also reminded the class that if they serve others, they will always have others, and that “If you only serve yourself you’ll always have yourself, but no one else.”

The guest speaker was retiring science teacher Vince O’Donnell who paraphrased the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.”

“Build a ladder to the stars, but reach back and touch every rung.”

That reaching back, he said, was to remember as they move forward in life, to reach back to their fellow human beings.

He reminded them that they will face times of uncertainty, but that’s normal, and not to judge success by their fame or size of their paychecks.

“There will always be some one better than you, but you’ll find your own place in the world. Judge your success by your own standards,” O’Donnell said.

When students became graduates, Massanari told them they had received, “the gift of a beautiful education, a gift of a lifetime.”