Avery Neipert and Timothy Maradeo don’t come from the same parents. They were raised with different values.

Yet on Monday night, the two, valedictorian and salutatorian respectively, addressed their Palmerton Area High School classmates as family.

“For half of our high school career, we have remained tied in grade-point average,” Maradeo said. “As time progressed, we found that the greatest encouragement academically became working alongside one another. Behind us sits a class with a similar mindset, one that persists as one singular unit, one family. Now that we stand at the pinnacle of our academic career, one can look back and see that our family moves with one direction, not by chance, but by purpose.”

The family, all 118 members strong, received their diplomas Monday night during the school’s 110th commencement ceremony, held at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe.

Neipert and Maradeo joked about pranks they played over the years, such as chalk on the back of teachers’ erasers in elementary school, putting sticky notes under a teacher’s computer mouse and last, but not least, moving the 12th grade English room into the courtyard and barricading the hallway with balloons.

It wasn’t all about mischief, however, as the class raised the most money for special Olympics and accomplished many other notable achievements in and out of the classroom.

“At districts, we have seen softball earn gold and silver, baseball gold and football silver the last two years,” Neipert said. “Like sports teams, every family has its favorites, or the ones you associate with more often. In our family, these are the different groups, clubs and extracurriculars Palmerton has to offer. Some of my personal favorites are FBLA, Leo Club, Environmental Club, National Honor Society and Student Council. Others have found lasting friendships in drama club, stage crew, art club, chess club, game club and souled out. These clubs all displayed the creativity and originality of the senior class, whether it was the iconic performances in the Sound of Music, or the amazing talent displayed in the art show.”

Like many senior classes, this one experienced its share of loss including Towamensing science teacher Blaine House and S.S. Palmer guidance counselor Pam Storm.

“We consoled each other and channeled our grief into honoring their memories with programs such as Raising The House,” Neipert said. “Fortunately, the loss ends with these teachers. To this day, we can proudly say we have not lost any of our fellow students.”

Monday is not only the end of a journey for the Class of 2018, but also for two Palmerton teachers, David Kellerman and Marsha Beers, who are retiring.

“If ever you were to think of a patriarch and matriarch figure, both in integrity and kindness, it would be these two,” Neipert said. “They both had their idiosyncrasies that are forever ingrained in our memory, whether it was being lovely beat over the head with a ruler by Mr. Kellerman or having laughed with Mrs. Beers over her lack of computer knowledge and misplacement of a certain gnome. These two mentors epitomize the saying ‘youth is wasted on the young. We thank them for temporarily teaching our minds, only to eternally inspire our souls.”

Acting High School Principal John Gilly III encouraged the class, which he referred to as the “Class of Two Thousand Great-Teen” to “live life with enthusiasm and without alibis.”

“You’ve all been given gifts from God and placed on this planet for a reason,” Gilly said. “Don’t shortchange yourself.”

The class, Superintendent Scot Engler said, has been a joy to watch develop into young adults.

“They have successfully and respectfully represented the district and community as a whole,” Engler said.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Palmerton board President Barry Scherer’s graduation. Time does not stand still, he told the graduates on Monday night.

“Cherish your last moments together as a class,” he said. “Remember all the good times you’ve had and all the struggles you’ve endured to get where you are today. Nothing comes easy in life. Make a difference in everything you do and always be Bomber Proud.”

Though their journeys will nest take them to destinations like Penn State, Lebanon Valley, Kutztown, Wilkes and Lehigh Carbon Community College, the class vows to remain a family.

“On this stage, we might not all share the same blood, but we have grown to become a family nonetheless,” said Neipert.