Aiden Rodgers-Ace gives fist-bumps before Butler Senior High School’s commencement at Art Bernardi Stadium on Friday, June 9. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

The theme of Butler Senior High School’s 2023 commencement said it all: “Adversity, Perseverance, Triumph.”

The Class of 2023 was sent off into the world with a graduation ceremony Friday night, June 9, at Art Bernardi Stadium. No matter where any of the 465 students end up after high school, they can say they were part of the last Butler High School class to attend school prior to the pandemic, occupying a unique place in history.

“I’m ready to get out there and just get this going and have a good night,” said graduating senior Bailee Kaufmann.

For some, Friday’s commencement ceremony meant catching up with some old friends. Matt Rairigh graduated from Butler high school in 2019, and came to watch his younger sister, Malaynee, take the stage this year.

“It’s like a high school reunion for me,” Rairigh said. “I see a lot of the people I graduated with.”

Annabelle Turner, class president, delivered the opening speech and reminded her classmates to treasure their experiences in high school.

“This is not something that you can easily forget or move on from, and I don’t think you have to,” Annabelle said. “We had something that you won't have with anyone else. We went to high school together. We bonded over our interests together. We cried over homework and the stress of the day together.”

The theme of commencement was pressed by speaker Luke Benkart, who reminded the Class of 2023 of the innumerable challenges that they all had to overcome to make it to this day.

“To say this class has faced difficulties is an understatement,” Luke said. “The amount of challenges each of us has faced is immeasurable. We’ve all been struck down time and time again. From our peers, from life and even from ourselves. And yet, we are all sitting here today, and our story hasn’t ended yet.”

After the presentation of the diplomas, the last words for the Class of 2023 came from valedictorian Jack Teff, who took a page from his personal hero — Batman.

“You only have your thoughts and dreams ahead of you,” the class valedictorian said. “You are someone, and you mean something.”

Butler graduates make their way down the steps during Butler Senior High School’s commencement Friday, June 9, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

Butler Senior High School’s graduation was Friday, June 9, at Art Bernardi Stadium in Butler Township. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

There were 465 students in Butler Senior High School’s Class of 2023. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

The theme of commencement was pressed by speaker Luke Benkart, who reminded the Class of 2023 of the innumerable challenges that they all had to overcome. Butler Senior High School’s commencement was Friday, June 8, at Art Bernardi Stadium in Butler Township. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle.