MADISON TWP — Union High School graduate Victoria Bartoe wants to put smiles on people’s faces.

Victoria, 18, will attend Westmoreland County Community College in the fall, working toward a career in dental hygiene.

She wants to fix people’s teeth.

“If you have a pretty smile, you want to smile more,” Victoria said before graduating Monday night.

She was one of 53 seniors receiving their diplomas in the Donald A. Stemmerich Gymnasium at the school.

Salutatorian Leah Conner, 18, who will attend the University of Pittsburgh, also wants to deal with incisors, canines and molars.

Leah is bracing herself for getting close-ups of people’s mouths, some of which can be in pretty bad shape.

“I’m just going to have to push through,” she said.

Valedictorian Beau Rankin, 17, who is attending Villanova University in Delaware County, hopes to improve people’s lives by repairing damaged faces.

Beau is majoring in biochemistry under a premed program.

During the ceremony, he spoke about learning from every situation.

“You can’t be stuck in the same mentality in life,” Beau said before graduation, previewing his speech.

Leah spoke about never giving up.

Fellow graduate Leah Milliron wants to aid others spiritually. She is majoring in biblical studies at Geneva College in Beaver Falls.

“I’d like to be a worship leader,” said Leah, who plans on becoming an ordained minister in the Church of God.

The school will need to find another person to sing the national anthem at sporting events. Leah Milliron did it for the past three years.

Turmoil occurring across the globe didn’t deter some graduates from seeking the opportunities presented by enlisting in the military.

Dylan Shirey, 18, will join the U.S. Air Force.

“It’s a good place to start,” Dylan said.

Brandon Greenawalt, 18, plans on eventually majoring in engineering at Butler County Community College, but may join the Army first.

Other graduates are ready to enter the work force.

Zach Best, 19, will have to choose between fixing cars or staying at a sawmill where he now works.

He already is certified to be a mechanic.

Tommy Criner, 18, also is employed, working in construction.

Principal Michael Moore described the Class of 2014 as memorable.

“It’s full of characters,” Moore said.

Math teacher Randy Carmichael said the graduates are intelligent, but different in other ways.

“The boys are fun-loving and the girls are a little more serious,” Carmichael said.

He said it was a pleasant experience instructing the group.

Union graduate Gary Henry, an author and retired elementary school teacher, was the guest speaker.

While getting ready for the ceremony, the graduates had differing views on what they would or would not miss about high school.

Charlie Buzard, 18, actually liked his school meals.

“The lunches are pretty good,” he said.

However, his opinion was not universally shared. Beau Rankin scowled and shook his head no when asked about the lunch fare.

Tommy Criner won’t miss his old routine.

“Waking up at 6:30 to come to school,” he said.

The graduates reflected on the prospect of leaving high school behind.

“I think most everyone is ready to move on,” Leah Milliron said.

For Charlie Buzard, high school was like many experiences for adults.

“It went by very quickly,” he said.

Zach Best said he would feel different today.

“Tomorrow is going to feel pretty weird,” he said.

Despite any trepidation the graduates felt Monday night, Moore expressed confidence in their futures.

“They’re all great kids,” he said. “I’m not worried at all.”