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Schools

Highland Bids Farewell to Class of 2011, Principal

It was a night for goodbyes at Highland Thursday as the school bid farewell to its seniors and principal.

As the graduation ceremony at Highland Regional High School concluded on Thursday, the Class of 2011 left their seats and lined up around the football field and faced each other one final time.

They had one last piece of tradition to follow through on as a class, and then they would be finished their high-school careers.

As the departing seniors hurled their caps into the air, some ran into each other's arms while others looked for their family.

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The message the graduates conveyed was a simple one: The future is theirs.

Still, one top graduate reminded everyone, it's OK to hold onto memories.

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"We students will move onto the next chapter of our lives, but Highland will always remain. Just take a moment and replay this year’s past events," co-valedictorian Daniel Hollerbach said. "Remember all the funny and not-so-funny incidents, all the hard times ... and smile knowing that all of our acts have successfully guided us here today."

On an evening that marks completion, the Class of 2011 Tartans know they are all about to embark on an even larger journey.

Co-valedictorian and Villanova-bound track star Megan Venables reminded her fellow graduates to be optimistic about their futures.

"For me, running comes with highs and lows, and racing comes with wins and losses," she said. "The ability to smile, learn from those losses, and use them for future successes is the true definition of optimism. Climb mountains, hurdle obstacles, and reach your dreams with a smile on your face."

With the skies overhead threatening rain throughout the ceremony, family members filled the stands to capacity for what turned out to be a very emotional evening of goodbyes for the Highland family.

In addition to saying goodbye to the Class of 2011, students, staff and families also said farewell to departing principal Frank Palatucci, who will retire after 18 years at the helm.

In what was a first for Highland, the graduating class had seven valedictorians: Hollerbach, Venables, Jessica Barner, Courtney Mower, Bill Nyguen, Neeta Patel and Mousumi Sultana.

The seven, who delivered their speeches together as a group, took time to tell Palatucci how much he meant to them.

"You are man of integrity," Sultana said during the speech. "You are a master teacher, you are a person of distinction, and you are our principal, our friend, our inspiration."

Their feelings for the principal were echoed by Black Horse Pike Regional School District board member Mark Schmitz.

It was during his speech that he thanked Palatucci for being a "visionary, a big-time motivator and, most of all, for his incredible enthusiasm to this community we call Highland High School."

Former students were in attendance to say goodbye to the longtime principal, whom they claim embodied the Highland spirit.

Speaking for their fellow classmates, the seven co-valedictorians summed up the relationship students had with the departing principal.

"Through your words, through your actions, through your legacy, you taught us what it means to be a good person. You are a Tartan, you are Renaissance, and you are Highland. "

And they know no matter where they go, they will always be Tartans.

Editor's note: Check back with GT Patch Saturday morning for a photo gallery of Thursday's graduation ceremony and through next Tuesday for video messages from the Class of 2011's top graduates.

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