CHERRY TOWNSHIP — For 17 minutes in the middle of the Moniteau High School commencement Thursday, no one talked. But everyone watched.

With music playing a supporting role, more than 300 photographs of the graduating seniors flashed across the auditorium screen.

At different ages, wearing everything from cowboy hats and camouflage to uniforms and formal attire; with dirt bikes, tractors, pompoms and sports equipment; and making all kinds of faces, students showed the fun, adventure, trials and growing up they experienced together.

The video salute was the work of a team directed by senior editors Brittany McCloskey and Morgan Slater.

“They were an outstanding group. They did everything I asked for and more,” said Mike Lafayette, communications teacher and adviser. “There was no scramble at the end.”

Nearly all of the work was done during the second semester, but near the end Slater didn’t want to see the final cut before its commencement premier. She wanted to be surprised.

“It was very stressful. I wanted to make sure it was the best one ever shown,” McCloskey said. “It was emotional after it was done.”

School counselor Laura Kleemook said this was the sixth year for the video salute.

Lafayette said McCloskey and Slater, who also worked on the yearbook, did a lot of problem-solving on their own.

“It was very impressive to see them coordinate and work cooperatively and get the project done,” he said.

Senior Alycia Brehm expected to see photographs of herself in track, volleyball or basketball. So, she wasn’t surprised to see herself captured in basketball action and ready for track.

As a graduate, her plan is to live at home and enroll at Butler County Community College. She’ll also have a job.

”I’m going to work at the hospital. I applied for dietary. Once a nurse’s aide position becomes available, I’m going to apply for it,” she said.

Julia McGregor looks forward to taking more responsibility for herself when she goes to Waynesburg University to study pre-med. It will be her first time living away from home.

“It’s going to be a hard transition,” she said.

“I’ll be homesick,” said Jacob Fullerton. “Life was so easy as a dependent.”

Fullerton enlisted in the Navy last November. After his testing, the Navy selected him to study nuclear propulsion for submarines and aircraft carriers. The first stop of his four-year active duty commitment will be Great Lakes Naval Base for boot camp. Then he’ll move on to Charleston, S.C., for “nuclear school.” He said it will be very intense.

“Some schools will accept your training as college credit,” Fullerton said.

Valedictorian Patrick Snyder, who will study engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, and salutatorian Carter Miller, who will go to Gannon University and major in electrical engineering, gave their commencement presentations together and emphasized cooperation.

Snyder said it was fitting to do it together since he and Miller are best friends.

“When cooperating with a group of people, no one person’s job is more important than another’s,” Miller said. “Each person’s impact is unique on the final project.”

Snyder said everyone needs to cooperate and everyone grows together through the effort.

The 2015 lip dub honoring retiring teacher Bob Heck had its debut at commencement. It was an example of the entire high school working together to thank Heck, who taught at the school for 46 years, and show their school pride.

“[This senior class] is really a good group of kids. We’re really going to miss them,” Kleemook said.

In his closing remarks Principal Lance Fox reminded students of the support they’ve had from people who care about them. He stressed maintaining those relationships.

“This will always be your home turf,” Fox said. “Don’t ever forget where you came from.”