orth Hills School District
NORTH HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Congratulations ! North Hills Awards 384 Diplomas to Class of 2017
Commencement exercises for the Class of 2017 were held on May 26 at Martorelli Stadium . North Hills High School Principal Beth Williams urged students to focus on asking the right questions in life .
“ Upon graduation you might think you are now expected to have a lot more answers , and others might think the same . We currently live in a world where people both want instant answers and are ready to offer answers or judgments at a moment ’ s notice ,” said Williams quoting James Ryan , the dean at Harvard University ’ s Graduate School of Education . Instead of answers , focus on posing good questions .
“ Asking good questions requires you to see past the easy answers and to focus instead on the difficult , the tricky , the mysterious , the awkward , and sometimes the painful . But I believe that - in the end – both you and your listeners will be richer for the effort ,” said Williams paraphrasing Ryan .
Class members earned in excess of $ 4.2 million in scholarship awards , setting a North Hills record by more than $ 600,000 . Nearly 40 percent of the Class of 2017 graduated with a QPA of 3.5 or higher . Student speakers for the ceremony were Hannah Ashoff , Allina Molinaro , Anna McConnell and David Reith .
The graduating class included National Merit Scholars , AP Scholars , a Nordenberg Leadership Scholars Program selection , Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America award winners , a Allegheny County Diversity Award winner , Gene Kelly Award nominees , PMEA All-State and All-East musicians , National Speech and Debate Association qualifiers , Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science award-winning researchers , Eagle Scouts , WPIAL champions , All-State basketball team members and PIAA medalists in various sports among many other honors . Class members have been dedicated to the welfare of others as evident in the creation of The Pantry and the support of charitable events like the popular
36 Ross Township
Hogwarts on the Hilltop event to raise awareness of child abuse , a “ Big Cookie ” sale for kidney research , food drives for the North Hills Backpack Initiative , THON , a yellow-out for pediatric cancer and a bug-eating competition .
NHSD Board of Education President Edward Wielgus congratulated the graduates and their families before giving them a final piece of advice .
“ Don ’ t ever stop believing in yourself or worry about failure . Worry about the chances you missed when you don ’ t even try . Live life to the fullest , don ’ t give up on your dreams , and remember , no matter where your travels take you , you ’ ll always be an Indian .”
More than 86 percent of the Class of 2017 will be continuing their education by pursuing a two or four-year degree at a college , technical school or university , and 11 graduates will enter the U . S . military .