Samantha Cheek delivered the salutatorian speech for the 2013 Starmount High School graduating class. Cheek spoke about her gratefulness to teachers, parents and fellow students for making this monumental day possible for her and the rest of her graduating class.

Forbush graduate Beatriz Aguayl received a large display of celebration from her parents at graduation on May 22.

Forbush graduates Todd Patterson, Nichole Byrd and Austin Livengood pause in the graduation madness to capture the moment in a photo.

Forbush graduate Anna Wingler served as the class valedictorian. Wingler reflected on the individuals that had the biggest impact on her time at Forbush. While she credits her teachers and family with making her graduation possible she notes that the memories that she’ll carry with her forever are those that she shared with her classmates.

Forbush graduate Alex Sales spoke as the class president. Sales took his class on a quick and animated tour of the memories from their freshman year to their senior year. “There is no other class I would rather share these memories with.”

One Starmount graduate’s family prepared a surprise for the arrival to their car. Family members and friends filled the car with graduate balloons, wrapped the car with saran wrap, sprayed it with silly string and wrote their congratulations on the windows.

A Starmount senior blows bubbles in the final moments of the graduation ceremony. Many students brought bubbles to celebrate their first moments as high school graduates.

Brady Spencer Lamm shows his excitement after receiving his diploma on May 21. Lamm was one of 156 students to receive their diploma from Starmount High School for 2013. Lamm is also the son of Tribune employee Holly Lamm.

Tanner Mathis was named valedictorian for the 2013 Starmount graduating class. Mathis spoke about the bittersweet moment of graduation, sharing the sadness that the seniors won’t be gathering again in August to start school once more but the excitement everyone shared as they moved on to college, the military or the workplace.

Forbush High graduates listen attentively to a speaker during the ceremony on May 22 at Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University.