Senioritis is a diagnosable condition for a group at Karns City High School.

Justin Macurak of Bruin said he's trying to do just the "bare bones" in his final days of high school, but the teachers aren't letting the class work slacken. Still, fewer people are doing their homework, Adrienne Olszak of East Brady said.

The students are still coming to class and going through the motion of the final days, Haley Libecca of Karns City said. But once those college acceptance letters were received, some of the motivation to give every worksheet hours of thought dissipated, Adrienne said.

Students in Karns City and across Butler County are in their last full week of classes. Most high school graduations are this week.

Some students, like Justin, are facing the day when they will have their last class with classmates they met in kindergarten.

AndrewHarmon of Karns City and Justin met in elementary school. But even though both plan to attend college in the fall, they aren't afraid of their friendship fading.

And as they take their last test — for Andy McClaine of East Brady it was one in physics for which he didn't study — the students say to make the best of their time they are spending as much time together as possible.

Chris Sotirake of East Brady said the seniors aren't planning any surprise pranks and that a senior skip day was poorly planned and executed.

Wayne Harris of Chicora said his friends haven't scheduled any special activities to mark their last days together in class. Mostly, he's looking forward to the senior trip to Cedar Point on Thursday.

Then on June 6 his class will walk across the stage and the junior class will take its place.

But sentimentality is not on the seniors' minds.

"I'm glad to get out of here," Andy said.

"I can't wait to leave,"Andrew said.

Several seniors at Butler High School shared the same apathy about leaving their friends.

Andrew Thompson of Center Township is moving to Texas the day after his June 7 graduation, but in his final week of classes he is more excited for the future than he is nervous.

"I've been wanting to go so long," he said.

Dave Uram, also of Center Township, said the only thing he'll miss is paying just $1.30 for lunch.

The year didn't live up to all the hype, Dave said. It went by quickly, and he advised younger students to appreciate their student days before they are weighed down with the responsibilities of a graduate.

Haley said the pressures of making plans for the future subtract from the glamour of the year at Karns City.

She took advanced placement classes and worked for good grades.

"You do have more freedom (as a senior), but there's lots of hard work too,"she said.

Slippery Rock High School senior Jared Kline of Prospect said staying out of trouble is on his mind until June 9 when he graduates.

"I just want to get it done with," he said of the school year.

Saying goodbye to friends isn't a concern for him, since he'll keep in touch.

"You make friends in school, out of school and at work," he said.

Brandy Neely of Prospect said these last days are pressure free. That's because she took her last test for a Butler County Community College class last Wednesday. Neely was taking two courses through BC3 while still in high school to earn credits.

"It's not as much pressure as everybody thinks," she said of the final two weeks.

She is already thinking about saying goodbye to friends she sees on a daily basis.

"We're all going different ways," she said. "We're already not talking as much as we used to."

Molly Spurk of Portersville described her mood in the last two weeks at Slippery Rock as "bubbling."

Spurk said her sad times were done, including the last band concert and musical for the year. Now she was concentrating on the fun coming up in the next two weeks.

"I'm really looking forward to the slide show," she said. The event, which shows photographs highlighting the seniors' final year, is a tradition during the school's activity day, set for Friday this year.

Mars High School senior Amanda Evans said classwork and homework are at a minimum now, as students prepare for and take final exams.

"It's kind of fun because we are getting to spend a lot more time together," Amanda said.

She said many students, herself included, feel anxious about parting because they have spent their entire public school career together.

"I went to preschool with a lot of the kids I'm graduating with," she said.

Amanda's friend Julie Utz said she is "bittersweet" about leaving Mars.

"Everyone's excited but sad to leave their friends and everything they've known forever," said Julie, who has excelled in basketball, track and other sports.

Knoch High School senior Emily Marburger said studying for finals and saying goodbye have taken up the hours at school recently.

"It's a weird atmosphere," Emily said. "We've been friends for so long, and you're thinking 'I'll never see you again.'"

Adam "Nappy" Napora, also a Knoch senior, said the atmosphere in the halls is exciting.

"It's the end of the year, and I don't have to go back," Adam said.

He said seniors will be honored with a breakfast Friday prior to graduation practice.

"It's like I'm not going to see my friends again, but leaving Knoch to do something more is a good thing," said Adam, who plans to attend Allegheny College in the fall.

At Union High School, spending time with friends and having fun were on the minds of seniors last week as they practiced for their graduation ceremony this past Sunday.

"There have been lots of parties and having fun," Toby Painter of Rimersburg said.

Between working and weightlifting at school, he said he's managed to go to a few cookouts and bonfires with his friends.

"I've been busy all week," Jenny Barger of Sligo said, although she did find time to go to the senior banquet at the RRR Roadhouse in Clarion.

Maria Cicciarelli of Rimersburg has been busy, too.

"I've been getting ready for my graduation party," she said.

Friendships have been at the forefront of Rimersburg resident Lance Fancher's mind.

"I've just been hanging out with my friends before we leave," he said.

Allegheny-Clarion Valley seniors were also thinking about friendships and making memories during their final days in school.

Alicia Dittman of Emlenton, senior class treasurer, said the past few weeks have been bittersweet.

"I want every day to go really, really slow," she said. "I'm just trying to spend time with my friends. Hopefully, we'll keep in touch."

Class President Candace Austin of Emlenton said she's been making the best of her final few days, but graduation night will be emotional.

"There will be lots of crying," she said. "There will be a box of tissues just floating around through everybody."

Stephanie Stitt of Parker has been making each moment last.

"I'm trying to make every memory possible," Stitt, the class secretary, said. "I don't want to lose my friends."

Elizabeth Walter of Emlenton will give a speech at graduation as class vice president, but she said she hasn't quite soaked it all in yet.

"It still feels like every other year, like another class is graduating," she said. "I'm just trying to get through it. It hasn't hit me yet."

The students agreed the recent teacher strike in the district dampened their spirits a bit, but it also had its good points.

"At first, it was bad," Dittman said. "But then, it was like a preview to summer. It was a break from all the stress."

Austin agreed: "That was like, the silver lining on it. It did hurt our sports though, and it kind of took away from seeing our friends."

Eagle staff writers Paula Grubbs and Kris Miller and news intern Jen Meyer contributed to this report.