Renee Pritchard walks back to her seat after receiving her diploma during the Butler Area Senior High School commencement ceremony at Art Bernardi Stadium on Thursday in Butler Township. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

Butler Area Senior High School seniors faced one final setback before they could collect their diplomas Thursday evening — graduation was pushed back by an hour.

Despite the inclement weather that delayed the start time for commencement, the nearly 475 students remained excited to walk across the stage and graduate high school.

As class president Marley Fish said in her opening remarks, the members of the class of 2022 will be remembered for their resilience, which was the theme of the ceremony.

“Despite the challenges of navigating online learning and overcoming the feeling of isolation that came along with quarantine, my classmates were able to persevere and continue to accomplish impressive feats, even during a worldwide pandemic,” Fish said.

Butler High School principal John Wyllie gave kudos to the senior class for working through several difficult and uncertain years and coming out better for it.

“Many opportunities for growth inside and outside school were unavailable, but yet, here they are," Wyllie said. “They have achieved great things and have surpassed expectations.”

Graduating senior Griffin Holcombe said the class of 2022 can make it through anything because of the challenges they overcame in school, especially because the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sophia Wogan receives her diploma during the Butler Area Senior High School commencement ceremony at Art Bernardi Stadium on Thursday in Butler Township. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

“Future challenges will change you, but refuse to be reduced by them,” he said.

Graduating senior Kendall Holt said in her speech that in her time in high school, she found confidence to be one of the most important attributes she learned and developed.

“The confidence that we have gained through our time here will carry us the rest of our lives,” Holt said.

After the diplomas had been awarded, class valedictorian Rebekah Kalberer gave a farewell address.

She said the members of the Class of 2022 should celebrate their small, personal victories, saying those accomplishments are what best drive people to continue pursuing success.

“Everyone remembers the pep rallies and the school dances, but not everyone remembers when you nailed a test,” Kalberer said. “It shows that your hard work pays off, and the feeling you had at that moment made you want to go through it again.”