For the adults surrounding the Marian Catholic High School Class of 2021, the past 15 months were unique, difficult and, of course, unprecedented.

But as the graduates themselves said during commencement exercises Thursday night, it was simply their high school experience - a time that will shape them for years to come.

”Although we may be physically leaving Marian, little pieces of it that impacted us greatly will remain with us forever, wherever life may take us in the wonderfully weird mixtures that make us who we are,” said Valedictorian Christina Walko.

The Class of 2021 gathered Thursday night for their combined graduation ceremony and baccalaureate Mass, with the bishop of the Diocese of Allentown, Alfred Schlert, in attendance.

Fifty-eight students received diplomas during the combined ceremony held Friday night inside the newly dedicated John P. “Jack” Malarkey Gymnasium.

Of them, 95 percent are pursuing higher education. The class of 2021 as a whole accepted $2.9 million in college scholarships out of a total of $8.4 million offered to them.

Walko marveled at how each of her classmates are unique people formed by their different experiences. Some of hers are her love of music, her Catholic faith, and her hometown in McAdoo. But she said they now all share one experience which can’t be taken away, their education at Marian Catholic High School.

“We’ve spent these last four years becoming a little bit Marian High School and now have everything we need inside of us to take on the world,” she said.

Walko said they are also a reflection of their teachers, who always encouraged them, and their parents, who raised them to be compassionate peers. She encouraged classmates to measure success against their own goals, not other people.

Salutatorian Hailey Curnow admitted that being second in the class wasn’t what she wanted. But she overcame that defeated mentality by reflecting on the good times at Marian. Joining track - despite disliking running - was one of the highlights. Her career culminated in district medals and division championships.

Another highlight was getting to know the classmates who were outside of her circle, and learning that they were also interesting people. She said she regretted not doing it sooner.

“Most of you have made me laugh, smile, or had some type of positive effect on me, even if you didn’t know it,” she said.

While the students celebrated the little interactions which they will remember for years to come, the adults provided some context.

The Rev. Brian Miller, the school’s chaplain, said the strength and faith they showed since March 2020 will be an asset in the future.

“It happens to everyone. The challenges, the bad breaks, they will always be there. But your response to them can change, and it can be different,” he said.

In his parting remarks to the graduates, Marian’s interim head of school, the Rev. Allen Hoffa, offered a message of love. He challenged them to show their love more than they did the day before, for the rest of their lives.

“If we strive to love one another, whoever it may be, this world changes. And I’m confident, class of 2021, that it will change because of you,” Hoffa said.

Schlert told the graduates that they are going into a world where diversity is encouraged, but the diversity of being Christian and Catholic are not. He encouraged them to celebrate their faith and to never be afraid of doing the right and moral thing.

He also noted the sacrifice made not only by the students, but by teachers who upheld their duties even though they faced a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. And he said it’s possible that the Class of 2021 could create a bright future like a previous generation who faced unprecedented hardship when they were entering adulthood - the greatest generation who won World War II.

“They were deprived of a lot of things, life changed almost overnight. They had to adapt, we had to adapt, and the lessons you learned from that hopefully will be good ones for our society and the families you will raise,” Schlert said.