LaGRANGE – LaGrange High School set itself apart on Saturday with its own class spirit which led to both lighthearted speeches and a determination that they would make a difference in the world.

That class spirit led the class to do the “rollercoaster” – which is usually reserved for football games – at Principal Alton White’s direction before receiving their diplomas. The fun move required students to pay attention and work together, and according to the speakers at the graduation, that teamwork has been a trademark of this year’s graduating class throughout their high school experience.

“It has taken us four years or 722 days, or as I like to think of it 62,208,000 seconds to get to this moment,” Valedictorian Karan Lakhwani said. “It is hard to believe that only four short years ago we walked into the doors of LaGrange High School.”

In that time, members of the class have won awards, passed advanced placement tests, won games and accomplished so many things for a group of 17 and 18 year olds, but they noted at graduation that this was only the beginning.

“Let us recognize that this is the beginning of a whole new chapter, one in which we will be tested and will prevail over anything negative that life has to offer,” said Salutatorian Lillian DeGennaro. “All of us will go on to do incredible things whether it be becoming a doctor or a preacher, electrician, teacher, artist, musician or doing anything else we have set our minds to achieving. There is one thing that I’m sure of amidst the uncertainty the future holds: The class of 2017 will be extraordinary and will showcase everything LaGrange High has to offer for generations to come.”

White expressed a similar thought on behalf of the faculty.

“Your walk across this stage this morning is exciting not only because of the things that you have already done, but it is more exciting for the things that lie ahead in your future,” he said. “You may not realize it, but your generation is destined to do great things.”

LaFayette Christian Academy also had 16 seniors graduate on Saturday, and while the tone of their graduation was more retrospective, they too believed that those lessons that they learned in high school, will follow them through life.

“No matter how chaotic it may seem, it will usually work out in the end,” LaFayette Christian School Valedictorian Abigail Hughes said.