Mars launches 206 seniors into the next chapter
ADAMS TWP — The Mars Area High School Class of 2025 took the stage Friday night, June 6, not under an open sky as originally planned, but beneath the warm glow of auditorium lights beaming brightly on the 260 graduates.
Originally scheduled for Thursday at the school’s outdoor athletic complex, the ceremony was postponed a day and moved indoors due to inclement weather. If that change disappointed anyone in attendance, it didn’t show.
The auditorium full of parents, grandparents and all blends of families, swelled with emotion.
Grandparent Gordon Smith, who was there with his wife to celebrate their grandson, Jace Alexander Smith, said, “At our age we’re just really happy to be here. We’ve gotten to see two of our other grandchildren graduate, one as recent as couple weeks ago, and we’re just happy we’re here for this grandson tonight.”
Smith said his grandson is headed off to Washington & Jefferson College to pursue a degree in education and German.
From the moment the first notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” echoed through the auditorium, the air was thick with celebration and pride. Waves of applause moved across the audience as students made their way down the aisles, some overcome with tears, others flashing wide smiles and throwing celebratory gestures to their cheering families.
Class President Eva Fratto kicked off the ceremony reminding her peers of how they got to this point.
“Something we’ve learned is the importance of knowing ourselves, believing in ourselves and remembering we don’t have to squeeze into just any box, can find the box that’s right for us,” Fratto said.
Sean Brennan, who was the selected student speaker, addressed the parents in attendance.
“I want to thank all the parents who are here tonight, we didn’t always ask for help when we should have, and yet you were always there for us,” Brennan said.
Superintendent, Mark Gross told the students to always remember those who helped them get to where they are now.
“Please remember, tomorrow is never promised, so make sure you’re letting those who helped you know how much they mean to you today,” Gross said.
Before the start of the ceremony that would lead them into their next chapters, graduating seniors gathered in the high school cafeteria, decked out in their navy blue caps and gowns. While administrators went over final rules and details, the atmosphere was energized with mixed emotions.
For graduating senior Camille Bird, the night was bittersweet, the dawn of new beginnings, and goodbyes to friends well made.
“It’s sad, this evening is the last time some of us will be together before we embark onto bigger things,” Bird said.
Bird, who is headed to Slippery Rock University to pursue creative writing, credits her friends and family for helping her navigate the last four years.
“I want to thank my friends Sammy, Isabel and Kara, they really helped me get through school and have become my closest friends,” Bird said.
While many head their separate ways, the same cannot be said for twins, Austin and Aiden Kuremsky.
“We’ll both be attending Virginia Tech,” Austin said,
While Austin will be pursuing a degree in business, Aiden will be studying chemical engineering. Yet, even with huge next steps before them, graduation was all they could think about, describing it as surreal.
“I keep thinking about our older brother who graduated from Mars three years ago and now here we are,” Austin said.
Aiden added, “it's a feeling of relief and excitement, I mean it was four years of our life.”
Both brothers said their parents and grandparents deserve many thanks for being there for them in good times and bad.
“We lost our grandfather about a month ago and we owe both him and our grandmother a lot because they were always so supportive,” Aiden said.
Friends and family weren’t the only ones to come to mind for seniors tonight. There are also the unsung heroes in the classroom whom some students wanted to thank.
