“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get,”  said 2013 class President Shane Mudrinich,  quoting  Tom Hanks in “Forrest Gump”, during his valedictory speech at Friday night’s graduation ceremony at Panther Stadium.

Mudrinich’s speech was lighthearted and relatable. He joked about his favorite teachers and quoted current rap songs in an attempt to make everyone laugh  but to make a point at the same time.

 The 7 p.m. ceremony started with Principal Audrey Toney welcoming everyone after the processional of students walked in from the right side of the stadium  and the chorus sang the national anthem.

Class President Grant Aasen welcomed the entire company and introduced a special tribute to those who served our country in battle  and the chorus sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.

Following that  was the introduction of sponsors by Chloe Deitrich, introduction of class officers by Cassidy Sparkman, and the  introduction of salutatorian Christopher Pham  by Alex Borovsky.  After Pham’s speech. Leslie Perez introduced Mudrinich.

After the presentation of special awards by Class of 2013 Vice President Chas Van de Motter, the class sponsors presented special awards to Christopher Pham and Luke Runyan.

Principal Toney presented diplomas to the graduates as class sponsor Sean Hickey read each graduate’s name aloud along with any special graduation honors.

The introduction of the alma mater, presented by Emily Powell and sung by the chorus,  followed after the last graduates who crossed the stage had settled down into their seats.

Aasen then lead his fellow graduated in the traditional turning of the class rings, and  class treasurer Nicole Chrzanowski lead the changing of the tassels to the left side of the graduates’ caps.

 Co-secretaries April Coccia and Perez introduced a special presentation and the farewell, after which  the 2014 class officers raced across the fiedl to ring to the l bell to “ring out the old, and ring in the new” and make the 2014 class officially seniors.

Finally with kind closing remarks, Toney introduced the 2013 class song “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons, and the gradutes threw their caps into the air.