Elizabethtown Area High School celebrated the Class of 2022's graduation on May 26. Superintendent Michele Balliet addressed the students, noting the effect the pandemic had on the class. "Your perseverance and your resilience to keep moving forward in the very most unusual times, your level of dedication, your level of problem-solving and ingenuity in learning the skills necessary to graduate and your steadfastness in demonstrating knowledge in a variety of ways ... and sharing your voice with others are all to be commended," she said.

Principal Jason D'Amico spoke of the importance of values and encouraged the graduates to understand and define their values to help them succeed in life. "As important as it is to live your life with values, it's important to know that you are valued," he said. "If you take one thing away from this speech, I hope it's this: You are not a thing. You are not a set of skills. You are not knowledge to be used. You're more than the sum of your parts. You have worth and importance just because you are you."

Rylee Bender was named salutatorian. She advised her fellow classmates to stay in the present. "Instead of forging ahead, we should think of the day we have in front of us," she said. "Take it one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time. Make each choice as fulfilling as possible."

Bryan Murray was honored as valedictorian. He spoke about the emotions that come with thinking about the future - fear, excitement and sadness - and recalled fond memories of his time in the Elizabethtown Area School District. "The people you were with are who made those days," he said. "You have a vast network of students, family members, teachers and E-town community ready and willing to help you achieve your goals. Use these people as a safety net. Be bold. Be brave."

Senior Ainsley Raybold filled her commencement speech with statistics about the Class of 2022 and ended with some upbeat advice to her peers. "As E-town Bears, it's ingrained in the minds of students, teachers, coaches and parents to be loud, be proud, be positive," she said. "Be loud when celebrating life's successes. Be proud of how far we've come and where you've yet to go, and be positive that the best is yet to come."