There's nothing wrong with failure, Alex Guillaume told his fellow Class of 2024 members at Eastern York High School's graduation on May 31. "At some point in our lives, we will fail, and that's OK," said the salutatorian in his speech. "It's perfectly normal to fail. What matters is how we respond to that failure. Failure gives us two options: give up or try again. We, the Class of 2024, have proven we are resilient. When we fail, we get back up."

The graduation ceremony featured student and guest speakers, music from the Eastern York chamber choir, the presentation of a class gift and the awarding of diplomas to 128 students. Kaydence Strange was named valedictorian.

Despite earning the honor of having the highest GPA among her peers, Kaydence noted that academics is not what comes to mind when she thinks of herself. "If you asked me to describe myself, I would respond with one word: athletic," she told her classmates. "My whole life has been dedicated to sports." A soccer player since early elementary school, she is also a runner. "These sports pushed me to be stronger and not use excuses," she said. "Do not let excuses stop you from achieving your goals." She also cautioned her peers against focusing too much on one thing, noting, "Seniors, do not forget to experience life while still achieving future academic goals. Learn who you want to be. ... Chase your dreams."

Along with participating on the soccer, track and cross-country teams, Kaydence was a member of National Honor Society, the Varsity Club and SADD club. She is the daughter of David and Amanda Strange of Wrightsville. After graduation, she plans to continue her education and become a physician assistant.

Alex, the son of Jason and Beth Guillaume of Yorkana, was captain of the varsity track and field team and played varsity soccer. He also participated in National Honor Society, the Tri-M Music Honor Society, school musicals and King's Knights, and he played in the orchestra. After graduation, he plans to attend Millersville University to study meteorology.

Class of 2024 president Aiden Evans also spoke at the graduation ceremony. She addressed her classmates about the journey they all took from starting in elementary school to crossing the stage as graduates. "Though the journey of the past 13 years may have flown by in a blur, the moments of growth and camaraderie we shared along the way were nothing short of beautiful," she said. At Eastern York, Aiden was captain of the varsity volleyball team, president of SADD club and a member of National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Christopher and Jacqueline Evans of Wrightsville. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Miami to study biology on a pre-med track, starting with a semester studying abroad in Barcelona.

Wrapping up her speech, Aiden noted that it's natural to feel nervous about what comes next after high school. Still, she encouraged her peers to embrace change, adding, "Remember, the future isn't something we enter. It's something we create for ourselves."