The Butler High School graduation June 2 was delayed an hour by inclement weather.

But for the 475 members of the BHS senior Class of 2022, just the fact that they were able to walk across a stage and receive a diploma with their classmates was a singular achievement, one that was mirrored in graduation ceremonies across the county in the last two weeks.

Caps and gowns replacing masks and social distancing was a much as cause for celebration as receiving a diploma for this class of graduates.

The COVID-19 pandemic became a part of of all senior classes’ high school experience beginning when they were sophomores.

With the shutdown of schools beginning in mid-March 2020 in an attempt to stem the transmission of the virus, high school traditions such as prom, college visits and graduation ceremonies were scuttled in favor of at-home remote learning sessions.

At some schools, there were attempts to carry on the graduation tradition with pandemic-mandated variations. Butler and Seneca Valley filmed their graduation ceremonies and handed out diplomas over several days. Slippery Rock Area High School conducted its commencement ceremony at a drive-in theater with images of seniors projected onto its big screen. Moniteau graduates opted to have a drive-through commencement ceremony.

Two years later, things appear to have returned to normal, whatever constitutes “normal” in 2022. This year, proms were followed by in-person commencement exercises.

BHS Class President Marley Fish commended her fellow graduates with overcoming the feeling of isolation that rose from online learning and quarantines and rising to the challenges of an uncertain world.

Still, those challenges might not be over, either for the Class of 2022 or the classes following them.

In the same week as Butler Senior High School’s graduation, Butler Health System reported the county still has a high COVID-19 level, and that 18 Butler Memorial Hospital inpatients had tested positive for the virus.

These figures would indicate that, just as the graduating seniors, neither county residents nor health care professionals can afford to rest on their laurels.

— EF