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Campbell confers 86 diplomas
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Campbell High School graduates of the class of 2012 throw their caps into the air in celebration at the end of their commencement ceremony.
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Valedictorian and Class President Thomas Merva, left, gives his speech Thursday during the commencement ceremony for the Campbell Memorial High School Class of 2012 while Kaitlyn Kalicatzaros, right, class salutatorian, receives a trophy. Thomas also was president of the National Honor Society and received an honors diploma and the Award of Merit for his academics. Kaitlyn’s trophy was for her $15,000 renewable scholarship and other academic achievements. She also earned an honors diploma and an Award of Merit.
By Denise Dick
Campbell
Jada Colon and Anthony Clinkscale expressed mixed emotions about leaving the halls of Campbell Memorial High School.
The two members of the school’s Class of 2012 plan to further their education away from home next year.
Jada will study English at Ohio University in Athens, with plans to go into journalism or book editing.
Anthony heads to Mercyhurst University’s Northeast Campus in North East, Pa., where he’ll study sports management and play baseball.
“I’m happy to get out of here, happy that I did it,” he said.
His best memory of high school is helping with the bonfire last fall, a tradition before each year’s football game versus Struthers High School.
Jada’s best memory from the last four years is just spending time with friends.
“That’s going to be the hardest part,” she said of leaving for college in the fall.
The 86 class members received their diplomas Thursday during a sunny ceremony in the high school stadium.
Salutatorian Kaitlyn Kalicatzaros told her classmates graduation is one of the most important times in their lives.
“I’m excited to begin the next chapter of my life, but I’ll never forget my time at Campbell Memorial,” she said. “It’s a small school in a small city, but that’s what makes it special.”
Thomas Merva, class valedictorian, thanked his family and his teachers.
“No matter what, you were always there to lend a helping hand,” he said.
Thomas urged his fellow students to dare to chase their dreams, leave their mark on the world and be the best they can be.
The commencement speaker was Atty. Michael Maillis, a 1986 CMHS graduate.
Maillis told the audience he wasn’t a great student, graduating with a 2.3 grade-point average, and he wasn’t a student athlete.
But he passed the bar exam in 1995 with that year’s highest score on one portion of the test, and he’s now completed 27 marathons.
He was determined and he worked hard, the speaker explained.
Motivation and determination have more to do with where a person ends up in life than natural talent, Maillis added.