North Catholic High School co-salutatorian Stephanie Lynch speaks during graduation Wednesday, May 31. William Pitts/Butler Eagle

CRANBERRY TWP — North Catholic High School’s Class of 2023 is in the unique position of being the last graduating class to start school before the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday evening, May 31, after an arduous four-year journey, the school’s 149 seniors had one more step between them and the rest of their lives — the graduation ceremony.

“It’s been a long four years,” said graduating senior Alex Garvey. “I’m excited to get it done with.”

“We’re the one class to get COVID during our freshman year, and I feel like that was really weird for us,” said fellow graduate Devin Paschall. "It kinda taught us to live the next three years of high school like it’s our last, because we just never knew when it could be over.“