With a ‘historic lens’

In 1926, Calvin Coolidge was President of the United States; Winnie-the-Pooh was first published; and in Los Angeles, Marilyn Monroe was born. And here in New Jersey, the first graduating class of Pitman High School received their diplomas in June of that same year. That makes the Class of 2025 the 100^th graduating class of Pitman High School.

“The overwhelming consensus of the Class of 2025 surrounding this historic year is the honor we feel to be the 100th graduating class and dissecting what that means to each of us individually,” said Becca Mazzola, valedictorian of the class.

The Class of 2025, Mazzola pointed out, experienced the typical tradition like senior skip day and senior trip, but with a “historic lens” that only this Pitman High School graduating class can experience.

“As a result, the class as a whole was able to build powerful bonds that were only strengthened knowing that what our class was experiencing is only going to occur every 100 years,” she said, noting her parents were also graduates of Pitman High School.

The high school, established in 1922, and the community marked the 100-year milestone with many celebrations and commemorations. Starting in July 2024, the “100^th Class” banners were displayed in the school parking lot, relayed Senior High Principal Dr. Cherie Lombardo.

Class members also designed a special emblem to mark the 100^th graduating class, and this was later used on the graduation stole – or sash, she added. The number “100” created out of flowers for awards night and the number “100” on the field at the graduation ceremony were other ways to highlight the significance of this special class, Lombardo said.

“The class revived the tradition of a class picture on the steps of the original high school building,” Lombardo added. “Each student received one of these pictures. The class framed and donated a larger version to the school to hang next to the first class’ picture.”

In addition to school-related events and traditions, the Pitman community played an important role in this occasion.

“The community followed the school’s lead,” Lombardo pointed out. “They hung a banner across Broadway in the center of town. They gave students the option to have their picture hang on banners down Broadway.”

The 100th class was part of the annual Independence Day parade theme, along with the 250th anniversary of the armed services, Lombardo shared.

“Having our own high school has been a point of pride since it opened its doors in 1923,” said Lombardo, who has been the principal at Pitman High School for 21 years. “Many of the graduating seniors’ parents – even grandparents – attended PHS.”

Pitman High School alumni joined the festivities. The alumni association “threw a bash” in June at the high school where alumni were invited back, Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Preston said.

“Senior year, especially, a lot of us felt the gratitude towards Pitman High School for all that it’s done for us within our four years as well as throughout its 100-year history,” Mazzola acknowledged. “It’s a surreal feeling to be able to say we were a part of the 100th graduating class.

“Having the heightened ability to look back to all the significant moments in Pitman’s history, as well as making our own, was a privilege we did not take for granted.”

From a class of 50 students in 1926 to a class of 70 students in 2025, Pitman High School’s legacy will continue with each graduating class. As for the class of 2025, they will forever carry this milestone.

“They became the 100th graduating class of Pitman High School and no one else will ever have that title to hold,” Lombardo related. 

For more information about Pitman High School, visit https://phs.pitman.k12.nj.us/.