Russell Township’s Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School has added another class of graduates to its roster as the Class of 2022 celebrated its graduation on June 27. The gymnasium was packed with family, friends, and well-wishers as students were called up to receive their diplomas, awards, and a personalized Bible.

Valedictorian Katie McNair took the podium at the conclusion of the ceremony and delivered a rousing speech to her fellow graduates, which of course ended with the throwing of graduation caps into the air. Velvet and tassels rained down from the rafters, marking the graduates’ transition into adulthood and the first step on whatever path they choose.