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.

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.

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

Graduates excitedly move their tassels and a few toss their caps into the air. Students were urged not to toss their caps at the request of the church.

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

One 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.