QUINCY — The Quincy High School class of 2017 walked the last walk of high school before a packed house at Jaycee Stadium Friday night.

There wasn’t a seat in the house, and the crowd overflowed the bleachers on either side. The 165 seniors received their diplomas amid cheers punctuated by air horns, speeches punctuated by memories and inside jokes. A stiff breeze played havoc with mortarboards and honor cords.

Co-valedictorian Anyssa Ayala said graduation means one chapter is coming to an end, but their lives are just beginning. Each graduate will have to adjust to new circumstances, and no one will know – or really care – what they were like in high school, she said. She urged her classmates to keep their goals in mind, and not dwell on little things.

Co-valedictorian Loran Goninan said graduation closes a circle, in a way. Back when they started school some kids were excited, others were apprehensive, she said. As they got used to school those feelings faded – but they’ll be back again as kids move on to the next step in their lives, whether it’s college, job training or employment.

Whatever choices they make she’s sure they’ll be prepared, Loran said.

Salutatarian Sebastian Gomez said graduation is the first step into the adult world, where kids will make their own choices and take the responsibility for those choices. Whatever those choices are, the students should pursue the course that's the right one for them, he said. “You do you.”

Loran recalled some highlights from the class’s high school days, like the freshmen thinking they were ready for high school English, until the teacher brought up poetry and mythology. At least one senior in the audience agreed with her.

Anyssa said she learned some things in her senior year. “Calculus is hard and senioritis is real.”

Diplomas were awarded to the cheers of family and friends, right down to Nicholas Mesa, who received applause from the entire crowd as he was rolled across the stage. Nicholas happily displayed his diploma for the photographer.

There was one last announcement from the podium. "Quincy seniors, you are outta here."

Principal David Talley said the class earned about $432,000 in scholarships, from the colleges they plan to attend as well as from Quincy-area and Columbia Basin organizations.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].