Pine Richland High School Seniors Graduate

The sun was setting in more than one way for the over 370 Pine Richland High School seniors gathered for commencement on Friday night. The PRHS football field was a sea of green and white, and the stadium seats were crammed with parents and loved ones.

After four successful years, these students had a lot to celebrate.

The class of 2013 earned more than $6.5 million worth of scholarships, a fact PR School District interim superintendent Dr. David Foley was quick to applaud. 

Sitting among the class of 2013 were 19 National Merit and National Achievement Scholars, one national scholastic art award, and two future Air Force members.

Three hundred and forty two students will be attending colleges across the country, including 23 schools with selective admissions and one Ivy League school.

For the rest, Foley said, “I’m confident with your Pine Richland education you will find your way and do very well.” 

The tassels on the graduates caps not only swayed from the breeze but also from laughter.

Each speech was peppered with inside jokes between the students, from mentions of a Pine Richland Gangam style parody to valedictorian Marcus Colella’s joke about his love for professional golf.

The crowd of students roared as 54-year-old Gary Torso took to the microphone. 

Chosen by the students for his third time as the faculty speaker, the social studies teacher joked he “had dark hair” when he started working at Pine-Richland.

Torso had the students stand to applaud their parents. Foley echoed that theme by encouraging students to use “that million dollar phone” to call their parents.

Beach balls flew into the air intermittently and every now and then someone shouted something random from the crowd that was met with laughter.

The diplomas were handed out. Caps were thrown into the air. And then they were done.

Congratulations class of 2013!