Union Local High School’s Commencement is set for 6 p.m. Friday in the high school gymnasium.

Frankie Saffell is the valedictorian, and receiving salutatorian honors is DJ Butts.

Franklin Saffell is the son of Bobby and Terri Saffell. He resides outside of Centerville with his parents and brother, Robbie. He is finishing his high school career with a 4.773 grade point average.

While a student at Union Local, Saffell has been an active member of FFA, serving as treasurer his sophomore year and president his junior and senior years. He has received his State Degree in FFA and plans to earn his American Degree in the following year. He has also served as the class treasurer throughout all of high school. Saffell was part of the prom and homecoming planning committees and has been a two-year member of the National Honor Society. He has also participated in College Credit Plus through Belmont College and Ohio University Eastern.

Outside of his school activities, Saffell is part of 4-H and takes animals to the Belmont County Fair. Furthermore, He is a 4-H camp counselor and was a Junior Fair Board Director, helping out at our county fair. He currently works at the Kemp family’s dairy farm, where he has helped with the herd for over two years.

Through school, Saffell has taken the engineering pathway and plans to follow it. He plans to attend the Sokolov Honors College at Youngstown State to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

DJ Butts is the son of Jill and Doug Butts. He resides in St. Clairsville with his parents, sister Leah and dog Daisy. Butts is finishing his high school career with a 4.766 GPA.

During high school, he has been a member of the golf, basketball and track teams, where he lettered in all three sports. He earned Most Improved in golf and was named to the All-District, All-East District, All-OVAC, All-Buckeye 8, and All-Valley teams in basketball. Butts participated in the OVAC All-Star basketball game as well as the District 12 All-Star basketball game. He was also named The Times Leader Athlete of the Week. In addition, he has earned academic letters the past three years and was recognized with the All-OVAC Academic Award, and was also named a graduation marshal. He has been on the principal’s list all four years and participated in CCP through Belmont College and Ohio University Eastern. Butts has been a member of the homecoming court, National Honor Society, Future Educators Of America, pep club, ping pong club, Ms. Christy’s Youth Led Group, Belmont County Schools Staying Clean Club, and is the culture club vice president. He was a sixth grade camp counselor, volunteers for the Kingdom Sports Camp, is a youth softball umpire, a basketball referee, and is an employee of Blame My Roots. He spends most of his time running a successful business, OV KICKZ.

Butts is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in St. Clairsville. His future plans include attending Ohio State University or Marietta College and pursuing a degree in business and accounting.

Superintendent Zac Shutler will present the class during the ceremony and board President Terry Puperi will accept the class.

Music will be provided by the school band, directed by Thomas Swisher. Juniors Julie Broussard and Lauren Miller will serve as marshals with Diego King and Brody Roman as ushers.

The class of 2023 includes:

Mitchell Lee Adkins, Clay Dean Akers, Devon Lee Alexander, James Thomas Ault, Matthew Hunter Austin, Rylan Rebecca Austin, Camden Michael Baugh, Aleena Elizabeth Beckett, Carter Zane Blake, Ethan Robert Blinco, Walter Logan Boone, Lacy Dawn Brandon, Emily Elizabeth Britton, Riley Ann Broomhall, Caliesyn Breanna Jo Brudzinski, Dominic Anthony Burghy, Cruz Gabriel Burns, Kaylin Marie Burress, Douglas John Butts, Carson Gage Causby, Emily Grace Chervenak, Scarlett Sophia Clark, Logan Ryan Cole, Mia Elizabeth Cole, Caleb Anthony Compher, Landon Albert Crum, Preston Alexander Curry, Shayla Marie Dallas, Ahnalyn Elizabeth Davis, Conner Ron Davis, Ashtyn Leigh Deese, Joselyn Michelle Dolph, Susanna Grace Dorff, Brittany Nicole Drake, Hannah Marie Ellis, Mykenzey Jordan Erbach, Olivia Renee Forro, Christopher James Gallagher, Kiamara Dawn Garrett, Josiebeth Rachelle Goodson, Logan Joseph Gossett, Tyler James Graham, Kelly Nicole Gress, Baileigh McKinna Hale, Savanna Lea Hall, Adreanna Deanelle Harper, Hannah Leigh Heath, Dylan Guy Higgenbotham, Aivreigh Madison Holmes, Conner James Horstman, Brooke Ann Huml, Joshua John Jackson, Brayden Michael Lee Jeffers, Bryley Sox Jennewein, Emily Christine Kellaway, Torre Adele Kildow, Brock James Kinney, Lexis Maray Klee, Joshua Matthew Lewis, Paige Madison Lochary, Rylan Keith Luyster, Cole Patrick Matthews, Jessica Lee McCormick, Hayden Cole McCrate, Jeremy Hunter McGary, Cheyanne Louise McGraw, Jared Michael Miller, Dylan James Moore, Nia Elise Moore, Ryan Michael Moore, Dante Ryan Morgan, Mackenzie Ivory Murphy, Brody Alexander Myers, Gracey Brianne Norris, Lane Alexander Ogilbee, Tyler Vincent Osborn, Keiarah Nicole Evelyn Paulick, Catalina Rose Pavell, Hayden James Perkins, Logan Cole Perkins, Ashlyn Rae Phillips, Carrie Ann Pittman, Braden Robert Porter, Chloe Madison Porter, Jaksan Keith Price, Taylor Marie Pritts, Trevor Michael Pritts, Alexandra Marie Raines, Darrell Ray Ramsey, Blake William Rauschenberg, Caoimhe Spring Richmond, Vin Austin Roach, Keilana Rose Roby, Kaiden Michael Roe, Bryer Evan Romshak, Hailey Elizabeth Romshak, Franklin William Saffell, Linsey Anne Saffell, Jaymie Ann Schafer, Matthew Christopher Schubert, Hailey Jean Scott, Tayler Alexandra Sneddon, Austin Alexander Stoner, Adrianna Nicole Tamayo, Adler Jay Tanner, Kaci Renee Taylor, Gaige Lee Thomas, Brayden James Trahan, Reagan Lindsay Vinskovich, Devon Elliot Wells, Honey Alexis West, Rhian Lynn Wiseman, Bethany Lynn Wright, Skylar Marie Wright, and Hailey Rose Yates.