The Fountain Hills High School graduating class of 2016 celebrated its commencement ceremony in Fountain Park on Friday evening, May 27, surrounded by friends, family and neighbors.

Beginning with the class of 2016 marching as one down to the Fountain Park amphitheater and ending with fireworks and celebration, this year’s graduating class said farewell with the usual procession of speeches, honors and a couple of musical performances by the FHHS band and various choirs.

Principal Tom Brennan welcomed the class of 2016 with a pair of sunglasses on, an outward display of just how “bright” these young men and women are.

Senior class president Allison Brown was the first to address her class, noting that Brennan came to the high school with the class of 2016 and, after seven years with its students ranging from middle to high school, was leaving at the same time because he was “lost without them.” Brennan announced earlier this year that he will be leaving FHHS for a position that will keep him closer to home and his own children.

Brown referred to graduation as a turning point in her live and the lives of her classmates, one where they can “see our future so close.”

Student body president Julia Burgess was next to speak, commenting on the fact that FHHS has been a home to this group of Falcons for four years now.

She also shared the story of Orpheus, a man who suffered a great downfall due to a moment of doubt.

“Do not doubt yourselves,” Burgess said. “We have been waiting for this and we are capable.”

Receiving a standing ovation from the class of 2016 was their selected speaker for graduation and the winner of the Silver Falcon Award, Jamie Sunshine.

Sunshine said he made his way through four speeches before realizing that the best advice he could give would come from the authors who had influenced his own life. Sunshine shared words of encouragement through the stories of Stephen King, Mary Shelley and Douglas Adams.

Sunshine spoke to the importance of the journey, acceptance, standing up for what is right and finding one’s own meanings in life. Above all else, though, he encouraged his students to “question everything.”

Next up was the senior class salutatorian, Sara Koroli.

Koroli spoke to her experience moving to Fountain Hills from out-of-country seven years ago. She said she tried to be just like her peers and was afraid to show the world her true self.

Koroli said she found strength in her teachers, who taught her how to find herself and abandon the fear to show it.

“Don’t forfeit your precious moments trying to be someone else,” she said.

To close the evening, the Falcons heard from the 2016 valedictorian, Sierra Jarriel.

Jarriel compared the four years of high school to the four quarters of a basketball game. As freshmen, students barely realize they are in the game. As seniors, they are fully in charge of the court and better prepared to face the challenges that just keep on coming.

“There’s no such thing as a perfect game,” Jarriel added. “The bigger the obstacles, the bigger the reward.”

She encouraged her classmates to dream big, but to remember to put in the effort necessary to make those dreams a reality.

“Let your achievements feed you and push you further,” Jarriel said “Losses make you better than wins ever will.

“The class of 2016 will be just fine. Sitting here tonight, we are all winners. Congratulations, class of 2016.”

Editor’s note: Photos from the Fountain Hills Charter School and Fountain Hills Middle School eighth grade ceremonies will urn in the June 8 edition of The Times.