Back when he and his classmates were in sixth grade, Grant Elledge remembers their principal telling them it was "the easiest year of her career," since the class members were such "positive leaders in the school," Elledge recalled.

"And this style of being a positive force, simply by our actions, is still true of our class," Elledge said Wednesday night at Penn Manor High School, from which he and 457 others were about to depart.

Called "inclusive," "hard-working" and "honest" by those both younger and older than them, Penn Manor's Class of 2010 left its mark on its school, everyone who knew the class said, and left it during a spirit-filled commencement ceremony Wednesday night inside the high school's gymnasium.

There were some students, including Elledge, the class valedictorian, and salutatorian Jonathan Shue, who didn't miss a day of class in all four years of high school.

"So much for the swine flu, and even being late!" said high school Principal Philip Gale, who was graduating his first class as principal and told the graduates that, along with their many awards and honors, they "have many other attributes that cannot be expressed in a GPA or in a report card.

"Class of 2010, you have exceeded my expectations for my first class."

Wednesday's ceremony was moved inside the steamy gym, which Gale cheerfully called "Penn Manor's largest sauna," due to rain, and he lamented how Wednesday's graduation fell on what may be the only rainy day this week.

Perhaps the biggest ovations were reserved for the dozen or so members of the class planning to enter the military. And one graduate, Jonathen Zimmerman, wasn't on hand Wednesday because he has already started serving with the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Ga.

Gale, who said 76 percent of the 458 Penn Manor grads plan to further their education (they also earned $1.4 million in financial aid to do that, he said), pointed out how "it is human nature to remember those things that we do for the first time.

"Part of that is just the anticipation that leads us to that day," and also because of the impact that the experience has on us, "and the Class of 2010 has certainly had an impact on me. You have excelled academically, athletically and artistically."

Shue cited the importance of having and seeking goals.

"Between establishing and then reaching the goal, "it is what you do in between, how you face adversity and handle success, that defines you. If you set a goal, I guarantee you, you will accomplish something."

But maybe a member of Penn Manor's Class of 2011, Jesse Graham, painted the best picture of the success of his predecessors: "Just know that all of you have thoroughly conquered the beast that is high school!"

doconnor@lnpnews.com