Across the country, May and June is the time for high school graduations. This year in Butler County, the coming days and weeks will be a time to acknowledge and praise the outstanding young men and women whose accomplishments are highlighted at graduation cermonies and with various scholarship awards at high schools across the region.

These young people, who often combine outstanding academic records with athletic achievement and community service activities, can be seen an antidote to the all-too-common stories of troubled youths, high dropout rates and the sometimes tragic failures of the public education system.

School districts across Butler County, and elsewhere around the nation, produce some truly outstanding graduates who are most visible at this time of year, for graduation honors and scholarship awards.

The recent N-Vision award, recognizing outstanding high school seniors likely to become future leaders, is co-sponsored by Westinghouse Electric Co. and the Butler Eagle. It is a high-profile, countywide event, but is just one of the annual awards programs to honor outstanding high school students.

This year's N-Vision award winner, Mars senior Samantha Brandon, was selected partly for her dedication to others, including her work with juvenile diabetes and breast cancer awareness. Brandon was named to her high school honor roll in grades 9 through 12, and also is a member of the National Honor Society.

Brandon's achievements extend beyond the classroom, where she lettered in three sports in all four years of high school.

The 10 N-Vision finalists recognized along with Brandon had similar records of achievement, including academics, athletics, music or theater and volunteer activities.

Seeing what these young people have managed to achieve as high school students, it's inspiring to imagine what they can achieve in their lifetimes.

And it's worth hoping that a good percentage of those students, who might be seen as our best and brightest, will remain in this area as adults, bringing their skills, energy and character to help Butler County and Western Pennsylvania flourish in the future.

For those whose graduation day is now a faded memory, the breadth of achievement of these young people is hard to fathom.

The featured speakers at the May 20 N-Vision event in Cranberry were Pittsburgh-area sisters Jamie and Ali McMutrie, who have become internationally known for their work helping orphans in Haiti. The McMutrie sisters, still just 22 and 30 years old, have improved the lives of many orphans and their adoptive parents. Their work in Haiti served as inspiration for what can be achieved — at any age — for those attending the N-vision event.

Further reminders of the top caliber of many high school seniors was reflected in the "Class of 2010" graduation tab published in the Butler Eagle this week. The special section featured brief biographies of scores of outstanding seniors from Butler County high schools, both public and private.

Many students featured in the graduation tab continue the tradition of outstanding graduates before them by putting together an impressive and balanced high school career often featuring strong academic records along with sports, music, foreign language studies and community service or volunteer activities.

The achievements of these young people should serve them well as they move on to their next challenge. They also should inspire high school juniors, sophomores and freshmen who will be returning to their classrooms in the fall.

Despite the many challenges facing area high schools, it's a welcome change of tone to pause and recognize the outstanding members of the Class of 2010.

To the 2010 graduates and the many proud parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, congratulations.