Wheeling Park High School Graduates 340
Joselyn King WHEELING -- Wheeling Park HIgh School graduating seniors were told to "keep a positive attitude" and "live in the moment" as they embark on their next chapter in life.
WPHS graduated 340 students during a ceremony Sunday at WesBanco Arena.
Principal Meredith Dailer provided figures indicating the group was largely academically gifted. Collectively, this year's graduating seniors were awarded $7,134,532 in college scholarship money.
She also noted that of the 340 graduates, 78 qualified for West Virginia's Promise Scholarship.
Valedictorian Trenton Rosenthal told the graduates to think back to when they first started high school, then experienced trepidation as they met new people and started new classes in new areas of interest.
"I made new friends. One of them will be my roommate in a couple of months," he said.
Rosenthal encouraged graduates to remain positive as they head to college or other adventures. He also offered what he believes to be the keys to success -- showing up for classes or work, being persistent in what you do and always showing respect.
"Keep going," he told his classmates. "If you don't, who knows what you would have accomplished."
Harper Moores, class secretary, announced the gift from the Class of 2025 to the school would be a number of trees for planting.
Salutatorian Alexis Bordas then introduced the school's "outstanding alumnus" for 2025. That distinction went to 2015 graduate Michael Grove, currently a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Grove spoke to the graduates via video presentation. After graduating from WPHS, Grove attended West Virginia University and achieved a degree in finance. He would then be a second round draft pick by the Dodgers.
He told the students to "embrace adversity and challenges," as unexpected things often happen and "are not in the plan." He explained in 2017 while at WVU, he had to have elbow surgery that kept him off the field for two seasons.
At present, he is dealing with a shoulder injury that is keeping him off the mound at Dodger Stadium.
And when you aren't succeeding at what you do and make mistakes, laugh at yourself and don't take yourself so seriously, Grove noted. He also advised the students to "live in the moment."
"If you are focused on the future too much, you can't appreciate the present," Grove said.
Those among the graduates enlisting in the military were also singled out during Sunday's ceremony.
It was announced that Jameson Maynard, a state wrestling champion and standout football player at WPHS, would be attending the U.S. Naval Academy and be a member of the wrestling team there. He was presented with the Naval Academy's flag by Bryan Minor, a representative and local recruiter for the Naval Academy.