MANDATA - The valedictorian of Line Mountain's Class of 2013 took a page from pop culture, and quantum mechanics, while preparing his speech for Friday's graduation ceremony.
Valedictorian and class president Kyle Mace compared the futures of the 86 members of his class to Schrodinger's cat, a thought experiment proposed by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrodinger in 1935.
The concept was a central theme of an episode of "Big Bang Theory" in 2008.
In this theoretical experiment to explain quantum mechanics, the scientist said it would be impossible to discern if a cat in a box with poison is alive or dead until the box is opened; therefore, the cat could be considered both alive and dead at the same time.
Mace said his classmates' choices will provide the same paradox.
"The decisions you are faced with may have an equal chance of being both good and bad - dead and alive - but it's only by opening the box that the real answer presents itself," Mace said.
The graduating seniors may be able to make a difference in the world, but they will never know until they open the box and try, he said.
"As we go our separate ways in the future, make sure that when the time comes, you like what you see when you open the box," Mace said.
'New renovations class'
Mace noted the class of 2013 entered the district through four elementary schools - Trevorton, Leck Kill, Dalmatia and West Cameron Township - but Friday night, those schools were consolidated.
Less than a year after they started kindergarten, West Cameron closed.
Renovations and additions were a major part of the last decade, and Leck Kill and Dalmatia elementary schools closed their doors for the last time earlier this month.
High School Principal Jeffrey Roadcap called them the "new renovation class."
"You know what change means," Roadcap told the class.
The principal advised the class to treat people like people, to use education to educate themselves and to never forget where they came from. He urged them to humble themselves, involve themselves with their passions, look for ways to help others and to always mind their own thoughts.
Maj. Jeremy L. Peiffer of the U.S. Army Reserves, who was the special guest speaker, challenged the class to make good decisions.
No matter what they were - from an athlete to a brainiac - he said their fight is just beginning.
"This is the first day of your destiny. Step out of here as an informed American," he said.
The processional, national anthem, alma mater and recessional were performed by the high school concert band. Salutatorian Katia Carl introduced Peiffer.
The class presentation and tassel ceremony was conducted by Roadcap and the class acceptance was conducted by Superintendent Dave Campbell.
School board president Troy Laudenslager presented the diplomas.
Class officers are Mace, president; Carl Pollard, vice president; Savannah Copson, historian; Abbie Shervinskie, secretary, and Colton Bowman, treasurer.
Graduates
The members of the Class of 2013 are Jesse Lee Anderson, Brittany Nicole Arbogast, Michael Edward Benner Jr., Colton Matthew Bowman, Kaitlyn Rose Boyer, William Raymond Breinich III, Walter James Britton III, Dylan Joseph Brosius, Dylan Buddock, Paul Andrew Byers, Katia Marie Carl, Rebecca Rose Carta, Robert Allen Cook II, Savannah Lee Copson, Shawn Aaron DeLong, Kelsey Megan Derrick, Kevin Shawn Dewald Jr., Dylon Lee Failor, Amanda Mae Feger, Danielle Desiree Flynn, Brandon Leigh Foulds and Dalton Scott Frits.
Heidi Ann Gessner, William Charles Grove, Erika Christine Hauck, Britton Scott Heim, Katrina Ann Heim, Charles Arthur Hoffman, Lucas Richard Hoffman, Coltin Robert Hunsberger, Joseph Michael Katalinas, Zachery Albert Kemberling, Tia Briann Kissinger, Ciera Nicole Lahr, Garret Daniel Lahr, Sarah Elizabeth Lahr, Seth Daniel Lansberry, Kimberly Marie Latsha, Dani Alan Lebo Jr., Alexis Marie Lee, Cally Christine Lenig, Alyssa Lynn Letterman, Nathan Asher Levan, Kyle Raymond Lippincott, Jade Ashlee London, James Earl Long, Michael Steven Lorenz and Brandon Quinton Lee Lucas.
Kyle Scott Mace, Kevin Michael Madison, Katherine Alma Mako, Brooklyn Anne Marquette-Hulsizer, Casey Lee Masser, Dillan Lee Michael, Shyanne Elizabeth Minnier, Codi John Morris, Tyler Ray Moyer, Ryan Matthew Paczkoskie, Kerri Ann Pickett, Carl William Pollard, Jeremy Alan Renn, Cole William I. Rickert, Kenneth Daniel Rothermel Jr., Dustin Matthew Sandefer, Samantha Lynn Schlegel, Nicholas Andrew Seybert, Jamie Lyn Shaffer, Ryan Mark Shaffer, Steven Kenneth Shepperson, Abbie Carol Shervinskie, Erik James Smeltz, Austin Allen Snyder, Cody Lamar Snyder, Olivia Janae Souder, Brittany Lynn Straub, Nicholas Frank Strohecker, Breanna Elaine Stuck, MaKenzie Chyanne NikoleTran, Autumn Rose Wehry, Joseph Scott Weiler, Courtney Lei Whary, Cody Lee Whitcomb, Tysha Kyana Wilhour, Victoria Lynn Wolfe, James Austin Yocum and Kyle Robert Zimmerman.