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<b>First Posted:</b> 6/6/2008<br><br>RALPH NARDONE Times Leader Correspondent
KINGTON &amp;ndash; The 354 graduating seniors at Wyoming Valley West High School stoically accepted their diplomas as a grandstand full of cheering friends and family congratulated them. Some cart-wheeled, some danced, some chest pumped and some just stood straight up to shake the hands of school officials as they all shared their final moment in public school.

Senior class president David Hovey reminisced about entering high school as a freshmen keeping his composure despite some technical difficulties with the sound system. He spoke about the value of friendship, hard work and being prepared for when things don&amp;rsquo;t go as planned.
He joked how he will always remember how the french fries are baked on Fridays. He added all of the people working at the school from the teachers to the food servers helped make his time memorable.
Scott Hromisin, student council president, talked about how fast the time in school went. Hromisin, a future Penn State student, advised the other graduates &amp;ldquo;don&amp;rsquo;t fear change.&amp;rdquo;
No other class looked so &amp;ldquo;fashionable in khakis and polos,&amp;rdquo; he added.
Principal David Tosh encouraged the students to continue their educations after high school to carry on the future important tasks. 
He announced the salutatorian, Alex Pretko, who will go on to Princeton University in the Fall. Pretko opened the ceremony singing the national anthem.
The valedictorian student Kenny Kufta was also recognized. He will go on to study physics at Penn State University, Tosh said.
Superintendent Dr. Michael Garzella called the graduates a &amp;ldquo;fine group.&amp;rdquo; He emphasized to them they will become part of the future workforce in a global economy. &amp;ldquo;Make the world a better place,&amp;rdquo; he said.
Eric Leedock admits he will miss his time at Wyoming Valley West, saying the whole experience was very good. Leedock will go on to pursue a career in the medical field. He gave credit to his mother Mary for her support.
Trisha O&amp;rsquo;Boyle, who will move on to Wilkes University for a career in physical therapy, will miss her friends and is a little scared about the future. But she feels prepared.
For more coverage

Look for a class photo, additional photos from graduation and a list of graduates in The Times Leader keepsake graduation edition on July 5.

Jumping for joy at graduation