Bethel Park School District officials say farewell to the class of 2025

Bethel Park High School grad Ella Milliken believes there is much more to life than material things.

That shared experiences are what matter most, not what someone is wearing at the time.

“Think about the last time you had a conversation with a friend,” Milliken told her fellow classmates at commencement on June 12.

“Do you remember what they were wearing? No. What I am sure you do remember, though, is what they said to you and how they treated you in that moment. So be kind. Your words matter.”

The senior class president’s commencement address touched on having a strong support system, a football game sophomore year and other memories she will carry with her into the future.

Caring for one another and how they will “always be connected as Black Hawks” was a theme of many speeches delivered at Black Hawk Stadium as the 313 students awaited their names being called for the diplomas.

Salutatorian Josh Tierney thanked educators, family and classmates. He focused his message around the phrase “people change people,” and encouraged his fellow alums to do whatever they do in their lives with respect and kindness.

“We get one shot at this bizarre, confusing, scary and exciting thing called life,” Tierney said. “So take it. Make the most of it and be yourself. Don’t waste time. You’ve already beaten the odds. Don’t let anything prevent you from pursuing what you’re passionate about.”

Superintendent James Walsh said the class of 2025 will be long remembered for its resiliency and grit.

“Whatever academic, physical or mental challenge we could throw at you, you accepted and conquered,” Walsh said.

The sun was intensely shining upon the estimated 1,000 people in the stadium.

The high school band, under the direction of Chad Thompson, played “Pomp and Circumstance” at the onset of the ceremony while students made their way onto the field.

Young men wore black caps and gowns while the women wore white.

There were two podiums on stage, one for administrators and guest speakers and the other for student speakers. School board members assisted with diploma distribution.

Six graduates who have committed to the armed forces, including four to military academies, received special recognition and some words of wisdom from retired Marine Sgt.Greg Skavinski.

They were Elizabeth Mackey, Army National Guard; Clark Cekus, U.S. Air Force; Aaron Hofbauer, West Point; and Rocco Capozzoli, Brady McKiernan and Clancy Orie all headed to the U.S. Naval Academy.

“Don’t panic when you hear this, but all of you will have to make your bed every day,” Skavinski said. “Most importantly, you will be standing on the shoulders of those who went before you.”

Bethel Park High School’s Top 21 Choir, under the direction of music teacher Todd Kuczawa, performed the national anthem and the school’s alma mater during commencement.

Senior James Lowen Jr. shared a moment of excitement, jumping around and hugging fellow graduates shortly after the cap toss.

“It feels pretty good, honestly,” Lowen said. “I’m happy to be here. Happy everyone’s here. They graduated, yippy. I thought everything was very well done. Didn’t take too long. It was punctual. I like that.”

Graduation list

Abdullah Mahmood Abdulqader

Ashmita Acharya

Mohammad Elham Ahmadi

Ethan Alberter

Pedro Amaral De Mira

Lakshmi Odette Andraca

Tyler Ankney

Blake Anobile

Margaret M. Babyak

Gabriella Balkovec

Madelyn Mae Banes

Eric Anthony Barrera

Caleb Bartello

Landon Bateman

Luke Beattie

Frank J. Belvin Jr.

Madison Bendik

Randall Anthony Bergia

Isabella Biancaniello

Emma Jean Bianco

Brian Bitkowski

Freya Blatz

Trenton Blum

Cameron Bonacci

Jace Matthew Bonidie

Sophia Adele Brawner

Madison Faith Brinson

Leumas Brophy

John Lawrence Bruckner II

Isabella Butera

Blake Raymond Cahill

Layton Ray Cameron

Audrey Campbell

Owen Campbell

Rocco Capozzoli

Maria Vincenza Catana

Callahan Cavlovic

Clark Cekus

Alyssa A. Celletti

Evan Chichwak

Isabella Cieply

Traeton Michael Clark

Devin J. Collier

Aubrey Comfort

Katherine Marie Connell

Mackenzie Conway

Sophia Costanzo

Zoey Lauren Cotter

Henry Cramer

Zakary Paul Crisson

Madelyn Cummings

George Danchik

Dheyaa Rasool Salim Danyan

Cameron Davis

Christian Davis

Luca DeMartino

Joseph F. DePasquale

Nina A. DePasquale

Martin Lawrence Devine III

Nathan Ambrose Disori

Brett Dobiak

Kayley Dobiak

Charlize Donaldson

Carly Dowell

Cooper Dzanaj

Ronald Dziezgowski

Ethan M. Eckley

Ezekiel Eckley

Callahan Edner

Braden Eggerton

Laylo Ergasheva

Giani Esposito

Jimmy Falconio

Reed Farmerie

Abigail Rose Farrell

Sydney M. Felicetti

Grace O. Ferency

Lexie Grace Filippelli

Sydney Franzmann

Jackson Friday

Wesley P. Fuccaro

Kapri Marie Fulcomer

Cameron Gaborek

Juliana Morgan Gallick

Julia Marie Gallucci

Joshua R. Gasbarro

Megan Elizabeth Gaskill

Jacob George

Megan Geraud

Matthew Gerber

Michael Thomas Gibson

Julia Gobbie

Hunter Goelz

Abigail Goldenberg

Lydia Goodman

Colton M. Gregg

Nathan Griffin

Keaira Navey Griffiths

Lindsay Gruska

Ela Deniz Gunes

Addison Marie Gurganus

Brayden Zavier Hackel

Alexis Rae Hamill

Jack Harrie

Mia Renee Hartman

Samuel Alexander Hartman

Rodan Fakhir Muhamad Hassan

Lucy A. Heckla

River Paige Hendrych-Bondra

Colin Kenneth Hewes

Ethan D. Higgins

Hannah Hines

Aaron F. Hofbauer

Nicholas R. Hosbach

Jesse G. Huber

Jack Hughes

Madelyn G. Hughes

Emma Rose Impellicceiri

Sara Louise Impellicceiri

Sophia Marie Iorio

Talia Alyssa Jackson

Emma Charlotte James

Isaac James

Lily A. Janus

CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

Class of 2025

Allison Mary Jones

Mackenzie Joyce

Felix Kammerer

Kailyn Kasievich

Kylie Kasievich

Cayden Kellington

Anna Christine Kelly

Shaun Kelly

Arabella Kennedy

Olivia Kitchen

Vincent Peter Klingensmith

Dax Kramer

Victoria Krappweis

Nicholas Krastev

Emma Clair Krchmar

Zachary Christopher Kucharik

Mallory Meghan Kuntz

Joseph Kwak

Adam Nicholas Lackey

Amelia Corinne Lancet

Ava Joelle Layman

Robert Lecak

Noah Robert LeJeune

Max James LeMessurier

Joseph D. Levis

Savanna Jean Lewis

Alivia Jean Lidey

Suki Lin

Riley G. Lloyd

Hannah Logan

Ryan Lorenzi

James Harry Lowen Jr.

Isabella Grace Lybarger

Aaron Tuan Mach

Frederick Toshihiko Mach

Elizabeth Michelle Mackey

Ian Majernik

Cody D. Majetich

Natalie Rose Mariutto

Isabella Markwood

Kamiya Martin

Nathan Joseph Martin

Molly Mathias

Kayla Grace Matvey

Caleb James Mazzarini

Brady Quinn McKiernan

Adi Medar

Keira Mehalko

Ange’l Manuel Mejia

Jacob Meyer

Denzel E. Meyers

Avry Madison Miller

Chela Jolie Miller

Heidi Miller

Maksim Joseph Miller

Seth Miller

Ella E. Milliken

Jeremy Scott Misak

Madison Olivia Moffat

Hannah Christine Molli

Shawn Matthew Mooney

Emma Moore

CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION

Class of 2025

Ja Vaughn Allen Moore

Kalee A. Moorhead

Megan E. Morian

Meredith Grace Myers

Paul Thomas Nichols

David Omondi Nyerere

Faith Apiyo Nyerere

Frank Joseph O’Mara

Finn O’Neill

Abby Oczkowski

Alexander Odenthal

Clancy Patrick Orie

Sadie Rose Orie

Shawna Palmer

Jaden Pryce Palombine

Noah Paola

Francesca Paonessa

Mitchell Paschl

Dylan Paul

David M. Perez

Ashley Perich

Allayla Michelle Perkins

Camryn Perrucci

Ryan Petras

Liam Petrocelly

Tanner Jacob Pfeuffer

Ava Joy Piccolo

Juliana Caterina Pichora

Jordan Pierce

Julia Pierson

Caitlin Podsiadly

Trenten Powell

Violet Puskar

Tatiana Daniela Ragnelli

Abdulloh Rakhmatov

Kelsie Rendulic

Quinlan David Reynolds

Nicole Louise Rhodes

Matthew Ricciuti

Isabella Rice

Nico Rich

Althea Fae Riedman

Blaise V. Roberto

Cody Roberts

Angelia Robinson

Marco Rodi

Sophia Joy Romano

Jet Rudar

Madison Rudolph

Kirill Rusiaev

Ella Sabanovic

Ella L. Sabatos

Morgan Schmude

Brea A. Schoffstall

Jala M. Schoffstall

Dylan Schumacher

Cassidy Schwartz

Zachary Schweitzer

Max Sellati

Violet Elizabeth Shaw

Tristan Shay

Meredith A. Sherman

James T. Sipe

Aiden Skelton

Ronald Frank Slavonic III

Thaddeaus Lloyd Smith

Alyvia Sohyda

Matthew Sommer

Jonathan Alan Sperring

Ethan D. Stanhoff

Markos Eric Stark

Caleb Steele

David Mark Steffes

Richard A. Stein

Marcus John Sterling

Kimora Kimberly Stewart

Aden Stout

William Stover

Taylor N. Striegel

Cara Stromberg

Madison Stromberg

Eleni Maria Suher

Aidan Sullivan

Cassidy E. Sullivan

Shane Sullivan

Michael Taylor

Salina Thapa

Yalin Thapa

Ava Vera Thomas

Coltrane Thomas

Adia Thomson

Alexandra Thunborg

Josh Tierney

Graham Timblin

Izabelle Rose Townsend

Linus Paul Truver

Tacey Trypus

Haley E. Uselman

Rylie Jade Valles

Ethan Varley

Brian E. Walker

Cameron Wallace

Lyla Gibbs Walsh

Ryan Walsh

Sara Walters

Kaitlyn Waruszewski

Logan Weis

Kristen Weiss

Molly Ray Welch

Owen White

Jacob Whitling

Jeremy Whitling

Michael Darnell Williams Jr.

Katelyn Wolf

Allison Wolling

Braeden Wright

Hayley R. Wuenschell

Ali Yasin

Matthew Yee

Ava Elizabeth Yoder

Katie Yonish

Raelynn Marie Zaborowski

Jingyuan Zhang