Through loads of homework, exams, games, meets, presentations, proms, breakups and makeups — and even the occasional school consolidation — high school students have many obstacles to overcome in the four years they walk the hallways in pursuit of their diploma. This Friday, three area schools will honor those who successfully completed the journey from wide-eyed freshmen to high school graduate.

Derry Area High School

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: High school football stadium (weather permitting). In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the middle school auditorium with admission restricted to ticket holders only. Live video will be streamed to the high school gym, where no tickets are needed.

Speakers: High school social studies teacher Anthony Perla, selected to speak by the senior class; class president Cayla Ray; Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center top student Mandi Dick; and the top four students Stephanie Maskrey, Angie Lavelle, Caitlen Sellers and Alyssa Sheppard.

Top students

Stephanie Maskrey, valedictorian

GPA: 4.0

Clubs/Activities : KIND fund, National Honor Society, World Language Honors Society, drama club, monogram club, tennis, academic quiz team, Girl Scouts, church youth group, and volunteer at St. Anne’s Home in Greensburg.

Honors / Awards : Distinguished honor roll, senior science award, senior mathematics award, Spanish foreign language award, Marine award for scholastic excellence, Air Force award for excellence in science and mathematics.

Maskrey will attend St. Vincent college to pursue a major in math.

Angie Lavelle

GPA: 4.0

Clubs/Activities : Teens for Christ, Future Business Leaders of America, ensemble and choir, swim team, winter guard, musicals and all class plays, jazz, marching and concert bands.

Honors / Awards : Academic honor society, Future Business Leaders of America first in region competition in spreadsheet applications and business calculations, 15th in state competition in spreadsheet applications, Seton Scholar Award, Jamie Lee Penich Most Improved Swimmer award, Arian Award for choir, Concert Band Directors award.

Lavelle will attend Seton Hill University to pursue a major in writing.

Caitlen Sellers

GPA: 4.0

Clubs/activities : President of Students Against Destructive Decisions, student council, National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, soccer, swimming, track, marching band, jazz band, concert band, works at Valley Dairy, various volunteer work.

Honors / Awards : Global travel scholar, Rotary student of the month, academic excellence, outstanding French student award, directors award in band, Excellence in Education Award, monogram club, $43,000 per year scholarship at Ohio Wesleyan, $2,000 scholarship from William and Mary Oleszewski Citizen-Scholar Award.

Sellers will attend Ohio Wesleyan to pursue a major in music education.

Alyssa Sheppard

GPA: 4.0

Clubs/Activites : World Language Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Academic Excellence Society, concert band, pit orchestra, swimming and diving team statistician, 4-H.

Honors / Awards : Distinguished honor roll, perfect attendance, Global Travel Scholar, John Philip Sousa Award.

Sheppard will attend Penn State University to pursue a major in animal sciences.

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Greater Latrobe High School

When : 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: High school auditorium.

Speakers: Class officers, valedictorian Mari Haffner and salutatorian Michael Harr.

Top students

Mari Haffner, valedictorian

GPA: 4.25

Clubs/Activities: National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, student council, Spanish club, Key Club, track, dance team, school musicals, Red Cross Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Letterman’s Club, Drama Club, chorus, community theater, Stage Right! Sensations, Excela Health volunteer, Outdoor Odyssey Mentor, Charter Oak Methodist Church volunteer, West Point Little League Challenger Program volunteer.

Honors/Awards: National Merit Scholarship commendation, AP Scholar, PHEAA merit award, distinguished honor roll, Rotary student of the month, Westmoreland 500 scholarship, young woman of the month for Latrobe Business and Professional Women’s Association.

Haffner will attend Penn State University as a part of the Schreyer Honors College. Her major is undecided, but she is considering bioengineering with a focus in neuroscience.

Michael Harr, salutatorian

GPA: 4.23

Clubs/Activities: Soccer, lacrosse, National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Letterman’s Club, Key Club, Ping Pong Club, volunteer at St. Anne’s Home.

Honors/Awards: AP Scholar with honors, Rotary student of the month, distinguished honor roll, PHEAA merit award, Air Force mathematics and science award for outstanding academic achievement.

Michael will attend the University of Pittsburgh as a part of the university’s Honors College to pursue a major in biomedical engineering with a minor in neuroscience.

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Ligonier Valley High School

When : 6 p.m. Friday

Where : Weller Field (weather permitting). In case of inclement weather, ceremony will be held at the high school auditorium.

Speakers: Principal Ronald Baldonieri, valedictorian and salutatorian.

Note: Ligonier Valley did not select its top students before presstime Tuesday. They will be featured in next week’s edition.

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