“You always have a home at Fountain Hills High School.”

High School Principal Cain Jagodzinski spoke those words in his opening remarks during the 2017 FHHS graduation commencement ceremony, hosted out of Fountain Park on Friday evening, May 26.

At the event, thousands of parents, family members, friends and community members lined the hillside surrounding the Fountain Park amphitheater, where the boys and girls of the class of 2017 eagerly anticipated their turn to walk up on stage and accept their diploma.

Before they could take flight and leave the nest, though, several speakers had a few final words of wisdom to share with their classmates and students.

First at the podium was Senior Class President Carla Naranjo, who began the evening with a collection of memories from the past 13 years of education in Fountain Hills.

“We all had those teachers who helped make us the people we are today,” Naranjo said. “While we all go our separate ways, remember the Falcons’ Nest. Allow a little piece of Fountain Hills with you wherever you go.”

Senior Tiffany Frasca offered the farewell address, saying “we look to the future with optimism, hop, dreams and fear.”

And speaking of that future, it’s one the Silver Falcon recipient, teacher Matt Keating, said he expects to be filled with success. Keating gave his students “one final lecture,” where he discussed setting goals, relying on others, recognizing growth and then celebrating it.

Most importantly, Keating reminded his students that success takes work and does not come overnight.

“It is the sum of each day that will get you to your success,” he said. “It takes persistence.”

Salutatorian Sarah Domin was next at the podium, sharing her lessons from high school such as be on time, “unless you’re in the band, in which case, be 15 minutes early.”

Domin reminded her classmates that no matter what, they should “always go all out,” no matter what they do in life.

“Everyone here can do great things and I wish you the best of luck in doing them,” she added.

Before the diplomas could be handed out, the Falcons heard from the final speaker of the night, valedictorian Katelyn McErlean.

McErlean spoke to the fact that some of her classmates have their lives figured out while others still aren’t sure what they want to become further down the road. To that, she said it is “okay to not know what you are doing all of the time.”

“All of our hard work is proving to have been worth it,” she added. “No speech could do us justice. I wish you all the best of luck, and thank you.”