43
Campbell graduation pays homage to late teacher
By Denise Dick
campbell
Tom Pulice of the Camp- bell Memorial Class of 2011 plans to study history education this fall at Thiel College.
He wants to be a teacher and says one of his Campbell teachers was an inspiration in that decision.
“Definitely Mr. Soroka,” Pulice said of the longtime math teacher who died in April.
“The way he looked out for students was unparalleled,” he said.
Michael “Mickey” Soroka was at school many nights until 9 p.m. to help and take care of students, Pulice said.
“When he passed away, that assured me that I wanted to be a teacher,” he said.
Soroka, who also supervised the multimedia program for ninth through 12th grades, collapsed while supervising morning announcements in the school’s multimedia lab. He died later after being taken from the school by ambulance.
His memory loomed large in the high school fieldhouse Thursday as 92 Campbell graduates — boys in black robes and girls in red — received their diplomas.
“Mr. Soroka was always the man you could count on and the first person to step up,” said Principal Richard Gozur, who is retiring this year. “We showed you how to be a good person.”
Dr. James N. Pantelakis, a 1988 Campbell graduate, honored Soroka, Gozur and his late father in his commencement address.
Pantelakis told the graduates that their accomplishment is something of which to be proud.
“This commencement has been 18 years in the making,” he said.
He urged students to be proud of where they came from.
“Your best asset will never be your diploma,” Pantelakis said. “Your best asset will never your grades. Your best asset will never be what college you attended. Your best asset will always be your attitude, your dedication, your smile and all of the intangible qualities you learned here at Campbell Memorial High School.”
Another class member, LaLana Alexander, plans to study computer forensic science at Youngstown State University this fall.
“I’m excited — very excited,” she said of her emotions about leaving high school. “I’m happy.”
She’ll take a lot of favorite memories with her:
“Going to class with my friends, laughing, playing and having a good time — and getting yelled at by the teacher for talking too much,” Alexander quipped.