QUINCY — The night couldn’t have started out in more spectacular fashion. On a night where Quincy gathered to send its 2016 high school graduates off in style, senior Helena Avalos delivered an American Idol-like performance of the National Anthem that could only be described as stunning.

She dazzled a capacity audience in Jaycee Stadium as well as friends and family with a big-time performance, graced the crowd with a smile that said, “OK, now we can start,” then took her place among the 168 graduates as they settled in for their big night.

It was a night of family. It was a night of celebration. It was a night of recognizing both academic achievement and the fact that these young people have turned the page on one chapter of their lives and are moving on to another. There were 16 students who graduated with honors and a grade point average between 4.0 and 3.75, earning a gold cord. There were 24 more who earned high honors with a GPA between 3.74 and 3.50.

Valedictorian Erin Nieuwenhuis spoke to friends and classmates one more time, reminding them they might not see each other every day like they had over the course of the past 13 years, but they would forever be in each other’s hearts.

The class motto: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of the others’ opinions drown out your own voice. And most important, have to courage to follow your heart and intuition,” seemed to be the voice most heard as the night went on.

For many, the next step is college. Eighteen will be attending major universities like Washington State, Idaho and Brigham Young University. Others are headed off to smaller four-year institutions or community colleges. Others still will enter the workforce. Nicholas Martinez will serve his country in the U.S. Army. No matter which direction they are headed next, they gathered one more time as Quincy Jacks, proudly displaying the green and yellow school colors.

The night was not all serious or sadness. The crowd chuckled as a beach ball or two bounced around the rows of graduates sitting on the infield.

As you might expect in a tight-knit community, the welcome was delivered in both English and Spanish in respect to both aspects of one community. It was a good day to remember. It was a good day to honor. It was a good day just to be.

The weather that threatened with gusting winds earlier in the day, mellowed as the night went on, giving just a puff of much-needed gentle breeze.

As they do in Quincy, when it was all said and done, the friends and family came down to the field to join the grads as they congratulated each other one more time.

Yep, la familia is the guiding force in this community in the heartland of Washington and they sent their graduating seniors off to the next great thing with style and flair.