NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS
PLUM BOROUGH SCH OOL NE WS
lum Borough
The following Commencement speech was given
by Kevin Dowdell, President of Plum Board of
Directors on Thursday, June 2, 2016.
Congratulations Class of 2016, my name is Kevin Dowdell,
I have the pleasure and honor of serving as president of the
Plum School Board. I know you are eager to graduate, so I
promise to be brief.
Up until now, your parents and teachers have taught you to
prepare for the future, but in the next few months your destiny
will be placed in your own hands.
Each of you hopes to be successful. But what is the secret of
success? There are many books written on this subject. I could
give a long speech on the secret of success; however, you will
probably forget everything I say.
Therefore, I will try to make it simple; you only have to
remember two words…“show up”.
Long time actor and playwright Woody Allen once said that
“80% of success is showing up”.
A CEO of a popular software company, wondered as she
graduated whether she would “make it” in the “real world.”
She said people always wonder what it takes to really be
successful. After over a decade in the business and working in
admissions at Princeton University her advice to the students
is to “show up”.
Recently she had interviews scheduled with 4 applicants.
Only 2 showed up. Guess who got accepted? Even when you
know that only 10% of applicants are accepted…Why not
help your chances a little bit and show up.
“No matter how you feel… get up…dress up…show up…
and never give up.
“Sometime wonderful things happen when you just
show up”.
Finally, the moment you have been waiting for. It is my
honor to give the confirmation of diploma, therefore,
By the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, I hereby declare this Plum High School Class
of 2016 officially graduated.
38 Plum
Stats to be Proud of
306 seniors will be graduating this year.
72 of those seniors have earned a 4.0 or higher
cumulative GPA. The senior class of 2016 has
received over $640,600 in scholarship money.
70% will be attending a four year college or
university, 16% will be attending a two-year
college or specialized school, 4% have enlisted
in the military, and 8% will be going directly
into the workforce. Students from the class will
be attending the following schools, joining
the following branches of the armed forces, or
joining the following unions:
Allegheny College, ASA College,
Bella Capelli Academy,Bloomsburg University
of Pennsylvania, Bradford School, California
University, Carlow University, Case Western
Reserve University, Clarion University, Columbia
University, CCAC, Cosmix Makeup Artistry,
Denison University, Douglas Education Center,
Duquesne University, Eastern Kentucky
University, Edinboro University, Electrical
Union, Geneva College, Georgetown University,
Hiram G. Andrews Center, Indiana University
of Pennsylvania, Juniata College, Kent State
University, La Roche College, Mercyhurst
University, Messiah College, New York
University, Notre Dame College, Ohio State
University, Ohio University, PAce University,
Patrick Henry Community College, Pennsylvania
Army National Guard, Pennsylvania State
University (Various Campuses), Pittsburgh
Technical Institute, Point Park University, Robert
Morris University, Saint Francis University,
Saint Vincent College, Seton Hill University,
Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock
University, PA Army National Guard, Southern
New Hampshire University, Stark State College,
Syracuse University, Temple University, Thiel
College, Towson University, United States Air
Force, United States Army, United States Army
Air Force Academy, United States Marine Corps,
United States Navy, University of Advancing
Technology, University of Akron, University
of Colorado Boulder, University of Dayton,
University of Kentucky, University of Pittsburgh
(Various Campuses), University of Tampa,
University of the Sciences, University of Toledo,
Washington and Je