CHERRY TWP — At the Moniteau High School commencement Friday night, many of the 105 graduates finished 13 years and more than 16,300 hours of school together.

Cody Keene, 18, says he'll remember being able to know everybody and have friends who support him. He said he'll miss them and the teachers he likes, but he feels prepared with the education he's had at Moniteau. “I'm planning to go to Slippery Rock (University) for mechanical engineering,” said Keene.

Mark Kimmel said, “I'll miss all my friends being in one place together.”

Kimmel's student job in human resources at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in Boyers is giving him work experience. He may go on to study business or human resources while continuing in OPM's college program.

“I think I'm going to BC3 and then transfer to Slippery Rock,” Kimmel said.

Megan Smouse, 18, class co-president, also plans to start at BC3 before going to Slippery Rock. She will major in public relations and communications.

“I'm excited to start the new chapter in my life,” said Smouse. “The real world seems pretty scary right now. High school is just so simple and comfortable.”

“I'm just proud that I made it through, and I never gave up,” said Nick Snyder, 18, class co-president. “At one point it crossed my mind, and I had to yell at myself and get myself back on track.”

Snyder studied machine technology at Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School.

“My dad owns an excavating company so that's what I'm going to do after I graduate,” said Snyder. “I'm going to follow in his footsteps.”

Thirty-one of the graduates attended the vo-tech school.

Ashley Hoshak, 18, completed the health assistant program there. She also attained a nutrition certification through a management development program of the National Restaurant Association.

She expects graduation to bring a big change in her life.

“It's going to be like a hit in the face,” she said. “You have to start being a grown up.”

Eventually, Hoshak plans to serve in the Marine Corps and said, “Serving my country would be right for me.”

Military fatigues showed below the edge of Brenden Goughler's graduation gown. Goughler, 18, will start U.S. Army National Guard basic training on July 28 at Fort Sill, Okla. He said he joined to protect his family and loved ones.

After basic training, he will be stationed in New Castle.

“Let this moment sink in. We made it,” said valedictorian Kristin McDeavitt, 18, who will head to Toccoa Falls College in Georgia for its program on outdoor leadership and education.

McDeavitt told the other graduates that even when they don't feel hopeful themselves, they can always offer hope to others.

“We stick together and encourage each other,” she said. “We must remember this sense of community.”

In the midst of their graduation excitement the students honored one of their class, Devin Kirk, the son of Terry and Angela Christy. He died in June 2013 after an asthma attack.

An ensemble of seniors sang “Tears in Heaven,” by Eric Clapton and Will Jennings, and dedicated it to Kirk.

Co-salutatorian Roxanne Welter, 17, said her classmates are capable of much more in years to come.

In her message as co-salutatorian, Meghan Williams, 17, reinforced that idea.

“Greatness exists in all of us,” said Williams. “Decisions and changes big and small really do change the outcome of things.”

Both Welter and Williams plan to become health professionals. Welter will study pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh and Williams will attend the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville to begin her training in pre-dentistry.

“Don't be afraid to fail,” said Sean Morrow, a history teacher and golf coach at the school. The students chose him as commencement speaker.

“If you never challenge yourself, you don't know what you're capable of,” he said.

Kiersten Fencil, 18, will challenge herself next year when she begins Clarion University's six year speech pathology master's degree program. As she enters a new stage in her life, she will apply the advice she's received to take every mistake that she's made and improve from it.

When Fontaine Glenn, 18, leaves to study communications and broadcasting at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, she can look back on her favorite times as a senior at Moniteau: a trip to Nashville with the school band and playing basketball with her best friend Emily Rider.

Snyder began the evening's events reminding classmates of a much earlier time. It was their first day of school when they were screaming and clinging to their parents' legs.

He went on to describe the Class of 2014 as they are today.

“It's the best looking graduating class Moniteau has ever seen,” he said.

Moniteau's tradition of a photographic presentation of seniors proved his point. Recent photographs and past photographs of elementary school toothy grins were mixed with country music songs of growing up.

Photographs of the class in prom finery and amid the skyscrapers of New York City on their senior class trip emphasized the transformation of the students from children to young adults.

Principal Maynard Harvey characterized the Class of 2014 as an extremely diverse group that demonstrates a keen sense of cohesion.

The class harnessed the energy of the entire high school to say good bye to Harvey in a “lip dub” music video.

Along with the Class of 2014, Harvey will leave Moniteau after seven years as principal.

In his closing, he encouraged the students to make opportunities for themselves. He referenced Tim McGraw's song “Live Like You Were Dying.”

“Maybe go sky diving, Rocky Mountain climbin', if you have the chance, go ride a bull named Fu Man Chu,” he said.