Alpena’s principal, Romeo Bourdage, began the ceremony, thanking the crowd for their support for the school and the students before introducing the 142nd graduating class of Alpena High School.

“Today marks the culmination of over a decade of your students’ educational experiences as they have completed, and often exceeded, the rigorous graduation expectations before them,” Bourdage said. “Today, the Class of 2024 is ready to move from the role of student into the role of Alpena High School Alumni. Though this may represent a closing of one aspect of their lives, the milestone they have achieved will allow countless doors to be open and pathways to be created.”

The rain held off as the Class of 2024, consisting of 212 students, marched in, waving to their friends and family cheering them on in the stands.

Bourdage asked everyone to remain standing as he brought forward seniors who have committed to the United States Military to lead the crowd in the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

News Photo by Torianna Marasco Alpena High School graduates walk to their seats during their graduation ceremony on Sunday in Alpena.

Following the military-bound seniors, Lilly Gembel took center stage to sing the “Star Spangled Banner.” Gembel led several games and events at Alpena High over the years, showcasing her singing talents each time, capping those experiences one last time at the Wildcat Stadium.

Bourdage continued the ceremony by thanking the Alpena staff and all volunteers who helped events become a reality for the seniors in front of them. He also acknowledged the Senior Planning Team and the Senior Video they put together which then played, featuring photos of the students throughout their senior year, from sporting events and under the Friday Night Lights to Prom and pep rallies.

The Class of 2024’s class song, “Vienna” by Billy Joel, played over the video. Also in the video were pictures and quotes to display their class colors: light blue, white, and dark blue, their class flower: white lily, and their class motto: “No one looks back on their life and remembers the nights they got plenty of sleep. They remember the memories from the night they didn’t sleep at all.” — Unknown.

Next, the Alpena High’s choir came forward to sing “Photograph” by Ed Sheeran. Standing in the front row were four students dressed in caps and gowns, joining the rest of the choir one last time.

Bourdage then introduced the two 2024 class speakers, Eden Gray and Alison Borowski, who each shared speeches with their fellow graduates and the guests who filled the stands.

News Photo by Torianna Marasco One of the class speakers, Eden Gray, stands at the podium sharing her speech with all those in attendance at Sunday’s graduation ceremony at the Wildcat Stadium. Alison Borowski was the other class speaker for the Class of 2024.

“Today, as we turn the page to a new chapter of our lives, it’s only natural to look back on the path we walked together,” Gray said. “We all have memories — good and bad. We started our high school career by navigating a global pandemic. It’s hard to believe it’s been four years.

“We’ve witnessed how time flies, haven’t we?” she continued. “In the words of Billy Joel, ‘Slow down, you’re doing fine, you can’t be everything you want to be before your time.’ This is our time, we’ve made it.”

Borowski then took the podium.

“Time: It never stops, it never pauses, and it never repeats,” she said. “Though we cannot control the hands of the clocks, we can control what we do in time.

“Our class has been through a lot,” Borowski continued. “With school spirit held high, and our standards even higher, we came together to achieve success under pressure. That’s something our class does well with. And, with time, each of us will take our lessons into the next step of our lives.”

News Photo by Torianna Marasco One of the class speakers, Alison Borowski, stands at the podium sharing her speech with all those in attendance at Sunday’s graduation ceremony at the Wildcat Stadium.

Bourdage then welcomed faculty representative speaker Tate Skiba to the podium, who shared his words of wisdom to the students before him.

“From this moment on, you all have a special connection to one another,” Skiba told the students. “Today you get to take a massive step together, a step into the real world, a step forward toward a new chapter in your lives.

“Your generation, Generation Z, is set to become the best-educated generation in the history of the world,” he continued. “You folks here have all the tools and all the passion that you need to change the world, and don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.”

Then, Alpena’s Top 10% was proudly recognized and the presentation of graduates and diplomas saw students walk across the stage, one by one, to receive the diplomas they had worked so hard toward.

After 212 students had their moment of fame on stage, they sat down together again with their fellow classmates to move their tassels to the left, signifying they had officially wrapped up their high school careers.

News Photo by Torianna Marasco Lilly Gembel sings the National Anthem at the Alpena High School graduation ceremony at the Wildcats Stadium on Sunday.

The Wildcats filed out when the ceremony concluded, applauded by their friends and family, walking among their now fellow Alpena alumni.

News Photo by Torianna Marasco The Alpena High School choir sings "Photograph" by Ed Sheeran at the 2024 graduation ceremony in Alpena on Sunday.

News Photo by Torianna Marasco Military-bound graduates help lead the Alpena High School graduated in the Pledge of Allegiance during Sunday's graduation ceremony.