Skip to main content

Chester County Press

‘We are ready to take on the world and make Oxford proud’

06/09/2020 01:06PM ● By Steven Hoffman

The 334 members of Oxford Area High School’s Class of 2020 are now high school graduates as the school’s 140th annual commencement took place on June 5.

The student speakers reflected fondly on their time at Oxford and looked toward the future with optimism.

Justin Neskie, the class vice president and the salutatorian, talked about how it seemed like only yesterday that he and his classmates were freshmen in the high school and having a hard time finding their way from one class to the next.

“It’s been a fun—and crazy—four years,” Neskie said. “We are ready to take on the world and make Oxford proud.”

Elena Roe, the student representative to the Oxford School Board, talked about the benefits of growing up in a small town.

“Living in a place with such a strong sense of community transcends the superficial,” she said. Roe thanked the caring and compassionate teachers and administrators for helping the students reach this milestone moment. She also encouraged her classmates to do what they love and never let anyone else’s opinion dampen their enthusiasm.

“You are the memories you make, the things you learn, the passions that you pursue, the lives that you touch, and the legacy that you leave,” Roe said. 

Class president Ashley Navarrete’s enthusiasm was evident when she stepped to the podium and proclaimed,“We finally did it!”

“After working and waiting for this day…we’re still waiting,” Navarrete said. It was one of numerous references to the fact this Oxford graduation ceremony was quite different from the 139 graduation ceremonies that came before it. As Navarrete explained, the virtual graduation ceremony that Oxford and many other school districts are holding as a result of the coronavirus pandemic prevented the graduates from enjoying some of the traditional highlights of the evening. The students wouldn’t be able to take part in the processional. They wouldn’t be handed their diplomas after a walk across the stage. They wouldn’t be able to throw their caps in the air. They wouldn’t be able to pose for pictures with their friends and family.

In one of the more emotional moments of Oxford’s virtual graduation ceremony, Navarrete told her classmates, “I wish I could see your smiling faces today.” 

That sentiment was echoed by school board president Joseph Tighe, who told the graduating seniors that he truly missed shaking hands with each one of them when he handed them the diplomas.

There were no shared smiles. There were no handshakes. But while the circumstances prevented most of the pomp, this was still a graduation ceremony, and it was still a time to celebrate the achievements of the graduating students. In the days leading up to the virtual graduation day, teachers and staff posted their goodbyes to the Class of 2020. And during the virtual graduation ceremony, each of the graduation speakers emphasized the need to persevere in the face of challenges, including Oxford Area High School principal James Canaday.

“COVID-19 has not defined the Class of 2020,” said Canaday. “It’s a set of circumstances that the Class of 2020 has been faced with. How you choose to respond to those circumstances will define your character as individuals.”

Canaday praised how the students have handled the coronavirus pandemic and the closing of schools.

“I commend all of you for demonstrating resiliency in the past two months,” Canaday said. “We could not be more proud of each and every one of you.”

Canaday noted that he has a particularly strong connection to the Class of 2020. He explained that he has been the principal of members of the senior class since they were in the 7th grade because he was the middle school principal then, and that class of students moved to the high school the same year that he did.

In his speech, class valedictorian Joshua Arnold talked about how challenges are an inevitable part of life.

“There will always be challenges,” Arnold said. “Every generation has its set of struggles and frustrations. The human spirit for progress will never be thwarted. We will never surrender our curiosity.”

The virtual graduation ceremony can be viewed online by visiting the Oxford Area School District’s website.

There is a hope that the Oxford seniors will all be together again one more time before they all head off into the world. A commencement ceremony is now planned for Saturday, Aug. 1 at 1 p.m. if the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic allow for large gatherings at that time.

“I look forward to seeing everyone again on Aug. 1,” Canaday said.