Freeport Area High School holds 2024 graduation ceremony as speakers describe togetherness
BUFFALO TWP — “Nothing great ever gets done alone.”
Assistant high school principal Charles Shipman greeted the Freeport Area High School 2024 graduating class with these words as they gathered in the high school auditorium Thursday, May 30.
Shipman’s words were confirmed by the hundreds of friends, family members and faculty gathered at the ceremony to celebrate the graduating class.
After proceeding from the auditorium to the football field, attendees were greeted by high school principal Tim Walters, who called for a moment of silence to remember Dylan Tarbi, a student from the Freeport Area School District who was killed while riding his bike Friday, May 24.
Shipman said it is important for the community to come together for events like graduation, especially after facing tragedy.
Kayla Maguire, of the Class of 2024, expressed mixed feelings about graduating.
“It’s a mixture of happy and sad,” she said. “I really can’t wait to get out of high school, but at the same point, I’ll miss all of my teachers and some of the kids I only see at school.”
Malik Febinger, one of the graduates, said the positive influence of one of his favorite educators, Karen Sterner, helped him achieve success.
“She turned me around,” Malik said. “I wasn’t the brightest kid to start out, but she got me in to study and everything, and it helped out.”
Sterner, an educational assistant, said: “I am very close with several of these kids. And I'm going to miss them quite a bit because I've watched them go through a lot of struggles in their high school career, and they've come out on top.”
Sterner specifically cited the difficulties COVID-19 added to the Class of 2024’s journey, and commended their ability to succeed despite it.
Malik’s uncle, Sean Dicer, attended the graduation ceremony. He said coming to Freeport helped his nephew achieve success.
“Coming to Freeport, it's just been a blessing,” Dicer said. “He's just really excelled and been a leader.”
Malik plans to attend college in New York after graduating, where he will study criminal justice. He also plans to continue his baseball career.
Jasmyn Ross, another graduate, expressed both excitement and apprehension about commencement.
“It’s a bittersweet day,” she said.
She plans to attend Butler County Community College, where she will study accounting.
Thursday’s commencement included musical performances and speeches by Freeport students.
