Thousands of people filled the Pleasant Valley stadium Friday night as the 446 members of the class of 2016 celebrated the end of 13 years of hard work.

Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors all gathered under a beautiful blue sky accented with wispy white clouds, no humidity and not a raindrop in sight."It has been three years since we were able to hold graduation outside," said Principal John Gress. "It is wonderful to see you all here."Gress reminded the families of the graduates that it wasn't all that long ago that they were just little babes in your arms and you turn around and they are graduating and getting ready to move out into the world."But it is not about the destination," Gress said. "It's about the journey.""We need good citizens, we need dedicated employees with good work ethics and we need political leaders ready to meet the challenges. You are ready. You as a class have worked together, you stood up to support a sick classmate when he needed it. Am I right, Brody?" Gress said, referring to senior Brody Keefe, who was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year.Gress praised the class for their achievements in the arts, academics and athletics."Eighty-five percent of this class is going on to secondary learning, and 17 members of this class are going into the military," Gress said. "I know I am low, but this class represents over $3.6 million in scholarships and awards."Salutatorian Drake Wilson addressed his classmates with a quote from the late Muhammad Ali."Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.""We have already battled and suffered to get to where we are today," Wilson said. "We must push on through our future struggles and fight as Ali fought with the hope that one day, we too will be our best."In speaking about his future and that of his classmates, Willson said, "We must look at the path we lay out in front of ourselves in the present and give it everything we have. We put forth effort and strive for greatness, and if something shifts our path, then so be it, we will follow through all the same."Class valedictorian Mary Cerbonespoke of all of the people who have had an impact on her high school years: family, teachers and friends."These people, they have all made me incredibly happy, and they've made me realize that the one thing I've learned as I've gotten older is the importance of happiness," Cerbone said."Everyone is going to tell you to go out and be successful. But really, what is success? If you become rich and famous, but you are absolutely miserable, are you really successful? So instead, I am going to tell you to be happy. Find something you're passionate about, something that makes you go to bed at night and wish for morning to come."The senior class was presented by Superintendent Carole Geary, who thanked the families, saying the students' success would not be possible without the love and support of their families and caregivers.Geary also thanked the teachers and staff for all that they do to help the students achieve."You will be our protectors, our health care professionals, our plumbers, our electricians, our lawyers," Geary told the class. "You are our hope for a better tomorrow. Be the change you want to be in the world."The class gift of a donation to support the 2017 class Chem Free Party was made by the senior class President Vera Rawls, Vice President Abigail McLaughlin, secretary Melissa Pasqua and treasurer Joseph Touni.Gress presented each of the officers as well as student body President Michelle Heckelman with a plaque.The diplomas were distributed to the class by members of the Board of Education. The finale was the traditional ringing of the bell. The bell hung in the Fairview Academy, which opened in 1881 in Brodheadsville and is still rung twice a day at the high school.At the close of the ceremony the students follow another tradition with the forming of the "Long Blue Line."