Class of '11 Leaves 'Indelible Legacy' at New L.M.H.S.

Lower Merion High School’s graduating seniors, the first class to emerge from the airy new Ardmore school building opened last fall, whooped it up Tuesday night in St. Joseph’s University’s Hagan Arena as they grabbed their diplomas and moved on to, as one student speaker urged, “live the now.”

(For a photo gallery of Tuesday night's commencement, .)

The merry mood of the 357 graduates stood in stark contrast with the dreary wet weather. The students entered Hagan Arena in a 10-minute processional that also included faculty and past graduates from as far back as the class of 1940, which was represented by Albert Cedarstrom.

Class of 2011 president Avi Chatterjee reflected on the construction and upheaval he and his peers saw over the past four years.

“We’ve created an indelible legacy as the first class to graduate from our amazing new high school,” Chatterjee said.

Said Superintendent Chris McGinley, “I want to thank you for breathing life into the new Lower Merion High School. Your energy and spirit illuminated a big box of a building and you made it a school. You made it Lower Merion High School.”

School Board President David Ebby recapped the year of LMHS accomplishments—sold-out plays, state playoff runs in sports and fundraisers for cancer research. The senior class also bequeathed tables for a school courtyard as well as donations to charity.

“This is a time to take stock of who you are and how you want people to understand you,” McGinley said. “I have great expectations for you based on what you have done here and what I know of your aspirations.”

Benjamin Edelman, selected as the senior class orator, advised against complacency.

“So now what, basically? We still have no idea how our life is going to turn out,” Edelman said. “If you’ve really found what you love, don’t stop, do it now. Commit, commit, commit. Every single moment of our lives is a commencement, if and when we want it to be.”

“Live the now, not the distant future tense. Don’t fear failure. Do what you love,” Edelman concluded, to enthusiastic applause from his classmates.

“What makes life worth living is spontaneity,” added salutatorian Patricia Neckowicz.

Valedictorian Jake Lee Wellens told his fellow seniors he appreciated the freedom and opportunities available to a Lower Merion High School student.

“We invented new clubs to suit our interests,” Wellens said. “We attended board meetings and we spoke our mind.”

The class gave a standing ovation to the announcement of the recipient of the evening’s lone individual award, the John “Fritz” Brennan Award: head custodian and wrestling coach Jim Perry. And when principal Sean Hughes took the microphone for his remarks, he was greeted with a chorus of “Huuuuuuuuughes”.

“I love you,” the principal replied flatly, drawing laughter from the students.

Hughes got serious for a moment to advise the students to always be on time to appointments and not to neglect calling home on a regular basis.

“It’s been an honor to be your principal, and even though that ends tonight, it will always be an honor to be your friend,” Hughes said.

McGinley, too, gave specific advice.

“First, when you’re calling home to ask for money, actually ask how your parents are doing before you ask for money. If you ask about your grandparents, you’ll get even more money,” the superintendent said as the audience laughed. “Second, gentlemen: trash bags are not luggage. Do your laundry at school. Do not come home with three trash bags of laundry.”

With , Tuesday’s commencement finished the township's goodbyes to the collective Class of 2011.

District middle schools will hold eighth-grade promotion ceremonies Wednesday. Elementary schools will send off their fifth-graders on Thursday, the final day of school for students. Teachers finish Friday.

“See you in the future,” salutatorian Catherine Smith Page told her classmates from the Hagan Arena podium.