In keeping with tradition, the Class of 2023 seniors each rang the old bell at the field entrance as they walked in. Questionable weather Saturday morning cleared up beautifully for the 7 p.m. ceremony.

The proceedings reflected the bilingual nature of the Dunkirk school district. Much of them were translated into Spanish. The salutatorian, Jessica Navarro, thanked family members in Spanish.

“This commencement ceremony marks the end of a journey that we will remember for the rest of our lives,” valedictorian Courtney Zatorski during her speech. “We certainly had our ups and downs throughout the years, but right now we are celebrating each other with gratitude. What we have accomplished is something to be extremely proud of.”

She later added, “We are adults now, going into the world on our own, and although it may be intimidating, if anyone can handle it, it’s us. We are a new generation of smart, creative and passionate individuals that have had experiences some people could never dream of. I’ve seen firsthand the work we put in to get to this point and I’m so proud of us. We had a high school experience like no other, but here we are. No matter how bittersweet this moment might be, it is just a chapter in our metaphorical books of life — and as we all know, when one chapter ends, another begins.”

Submitted photos Dunkirk graduates are ready to celebrate their achievements on Saturday.

Navarro said in her speech, “I firmly believe that through the pursuit of knowledge, we illuminate the darkness of ignorance that clouds our minds. Learning becomes a key that unlocks the door to understanding, compassion, and most importantly, empathy. It is through education that we can transform our journeys and shatter prejudices and our preconceived notions of one another.”

Secondary School Principal Rebecca Farwell and Class of 2023 President Alyssa Salerno both paid tribute to Rosselin “Rosie” Delgado, a class member who passed away Sept. 29 after a long illness. Salerno led a moment of silence for her.