Members of the Fountain Hills High School graduating class of 2018 celebrated their momentous achievement with a commencement ceremony in Fountain Park on Friday, May 25.

Parents, friends and extended family gathered in the park early to get the perfect spot to watch their loved ones receive a diploma for their years of hard work.

Just minutes before the ceremony was set to start the class of 2018 arrived from campus in three buses. Each bus unloaded and the graduates, with their blue caps and gowns, lined up to walk to their seats in the amphitheater.

The ceremony began with a welcome from FHHS Principal Cain Jagodzinski, who reminded the graduating Falcons that “you will always have a home at Fountain Hills High School.”

After the welcome senior class president Amara Feyrer-Melk took the stage to remind her classmates of the power they have over their own life.

“We have control over our future,” Feyrer-Melk said. “We have shown that we have what it takes to dig deep. In four years we have accomplished so much. All of you have been a part of those accomplishments.”

The ceremony continued with recognition of the different tiered diplomas graduates earned, as well as acknowledgement of graduates who have been in the Fountain Hills Unified School District since kindergarten.

After those acknowledgements, FHHS valedictorian Sam Aker gave a speech where he offered the class of 2018 a preview to his upcoming book, “Sam Aker’s Guide to Living a Regret-Free Life.”

“I was reflecting on my time at school and I realized I had a few regrets,” Aker said. “But you can’t go back and change the past, which is why I would like to share with you a book I am working on about living a regret-free life. Rule one, find purpose in life. Rule two, take action in life. Just do it, take a chance and jump on every opportunity. Rule three, attitude. Make the choice to see the good in everyone and every situation. Epilogue, an understanding of death. Make the most of every second, live like you’ll die tomorrow but learn like you’ll live forever.”

Salutatorian Drew Hoffman took the microphone next and reflected with the class of 2018 how strange the moment at hand was.

“It is honestly a surreal feeling,” Hoffman said. “Looking back on the four years we didn’t know what we were doing, but here we are, getting this piece of paper. I hope you all feel the sense of accomplishment and peace that I do. Congratulations, everyone.”

Hoffman also acknowledged the Red for Ed movement and thanked the teachers of Fountain Hills for all that they have done and continue to do.

Silver Falcon Award Winner Amanda Neaton spoke next and reminded the graduates that this moment was also a big but confusing one for parents.

“Though today is a very big day for you kids, it is a conflicting time for the grown-ups,” Neaton said. “For them time moved a lot more quickly. Pretty soon they won’t be able to blame that noise in the night on you getting in from practice or a late-night study session. Parents, it's okay, you now might have the time to pick up some old hobbies and make friends outside of people with a vested interest in kids’ soccer. Graduates, I have advice for you. Work at everything like it was a job.”

After Neaton, student body president Kolton Coultrap took the stage to offer his assessment on graduation and the years that preceded it.

“I think the most important lesson we have learned is ‘Show, don’t tell,’” Coultrap said. “That lesson has come to define us.”

After Coultrap finished, student body vice president Katie Laessig reveled the three senior gifts to the high school including gift cards to local teachers, $2,000 to the FHHS softball team for equipment and field renovations to bring it up to standards and two murals on campus.

The choir then preformed an original song by Lynn Truby and James Morales entitled “Where the Falcon Flies.”

After that the presentation of diplomas took place and each graduate walked across the stage to shake hands with Jagodzinski and receive their diploma. Principal Jagodzinski then presented the class of 2018 as fireworks kicked off a celebration of the special night.