Homework, tests, school projects, extracurricular activities. Students take on a lot of responsibilities, and they work hard.

Graduation marks an early life milestone and reinforces the process of education. It is a time for reflection and a cause for celebration.

"These kids deserve it," said Sean Van Eman, who's in his first year as principal at Lancaster Catholic High School (LCHS). "The expectations at Lancaster Catholic High School are higher. It's important to have special events. The education at Lancaster Catholic focuses on the mind, body and spirit. That's also what makes it special."

Van Eman served as one of the masters of ceremonies at LCHS' 97th graduation celebration on the evening of May 22 inside the private school's Berger Gymnasium. About 1,000 people attended, including 122 members of LCHS' Class of 2025.

The 70-minute ceremony combined elements of joy, gratitude, the sense of accomplishment and apprehension.

"We really focus on the dignity and the solemnity of the event," said Van Eman. "We practice three days for this event. The level of familiarity makes it special for the kids. It's built into our tradition."

After inclement weather forced the festivities inside, LCHS' graduation ceremony began with teachers and members of the faculty processing to their assigned seats in the gymnasium. The students of the Class of 2025 symbolically followed their leads.

After a blessing by LCHS chaplain Father Stephen Logue and the singing of the national anthem, the gathering was treated to four inspirational speeches from valedictorian Ivana Dougherty, salutatorian Kelsie McCuen, LCHS president Kyla Hockley, Harrisburg Diocese secretary of education and superintendent of schools Daniel Breen, along with graduating senior Matt Carroll's poem "Caps, Dreams and All That Came in Between." Then, members of the Class of 2025 had their names announced as they received their LCHS diplomas on stage.

"Though these four years that have gone by so quickly, it's a wonderful thing to celebrate the ending and reflect on all the friendships and memories we have made together," said Dougherty. "Over the years, I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought often about this moment and what it would finally feel like graduating. Because of how talented and competitive our class was academically, my class rank was always changing, and there were plenty of times when people asked me how I would feel to be valedictorian. I always said it would be fun to speak at the ceremony."

Father Logue presented a benediction prayer, the students sang the LCHS alma mater and the new graduates gleefully tossed their caps into the air. The ceremony was concluded by the graduates' exit procession.

"It's the end of one stage and the beginning of the next stage of life," said Van Eman. "With this class, they're all united. They really were like a family unit. I see friendships extending beyond high school. They had a strong sense of community for our school and our mission."

"My favorite part of graduation was when I was sitting on stage seeing the sense of gratitude on our seniors' faces," continued Van Eman. "It was visible. They didn't have to say it. That felt so special in that moment."

LCHS' Class of 2025 was treated to several days of celebrations. Prior to Thursday's graduation, LCHS conducted a senior breakfast on May 20, where 12th-graders were afforded an opportunity to interact with LCHS alumni from the Class of 1975; the 150-senior awards ceremony was presented in front of the entire student body and faculty on May 21; and a baccalaureate Mass was celebrated by Timothy Senior, the bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, on the evening of May 21 at Holy Trinity Church in Columbia.

"As humans have developed, education has become something needed for survival," said Van Eman. "Education meets an expectation and goes beyond that and helps humanity. I know when our kids graduate they are passionately faithful and socially responsible. There's a community of people who know what Lancaster Catholic is."

Propped up by their educations, graduates of the Class of 2025 will apply their LCHS experiences at colleges, trade schools and technical school; in the military; and in the work force. During their time at LCHS, the recent graduates accrued a combined total of 10,250 hours of community service and earned a combined total of $7.2 million in college scholarships.

"All of our kids have plans after graduation," said Van Eman. "Our graduates will become future engineers, future lawyers, future entrepreneurs, future people helping in the community. There's a really special place in our county that has a track record of great students becoming great people. Our community cares."