SPANISH FORT, Ala. — It was a year of firsts for Spanish Fort High School, and on Monday night the first graduating class of Spanish Fort High School walked single file onto the stage to accept their diplomas at the Daphne Civic Center.

Principal Michael Lucci commended the inaugural class of 122 graduating seniors, nine who graduated with honors, and 50 percent who had a 3.0 grade point average.

“I think they were real pioneers with a real positive attitude,” Lucci said. “They bought into building school traditions and did an excellent job toward establishing the school’s reputation and setting the stage for the future.”

Rep. Jo Bonner, R-AL was a guest speaker at the commencement ceremony. The theme of his speech was that the graduates should celebrate their journey up until this point. He commended them for being a class of firsts, and most notably, the first graduating class. He said he wanted to share some simple lessons he had learned throughout his life. He shared the following quote from Coach Bear Bryant from the University of Alabama: “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride and never quit you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.”

Bonner also pointed out that he believed that the extraordinary athletic talents of the class netted six full athletic scholarships. He also commended the baseball, volleyball, softball and girls and boys basketball teams, which had all advanced to the state playoffs this year, and the baseball team which won the Hank Aaron classic tournament.

“Congressman Bonner’s address was right on the mark,” Lucci said.

Valedictorian Kathryn Plunkett said her speech was aimed at encouraging students to continue to work toward their goals, and she praised them for setting their standards high. Plunkett told the audience that though it is not always being the first graduating class, they were able to face and overcome obstacles.

Plunkett hopes the new graduates will take what they learned in their experiences in high school to college with them. She plans on attending the University of Southern Mississippi where she hopes to major in biochemistry and eventually become a college professor.

Salutatorian Tyler Caldwell said he had his speech down to about three minutes which focused on “dreaming big,” he said. Though he said he got a little nervous the closer it came to giving his speech, it was a lot of fun.

“I was kind of telling the seniors to face uncertainty in life, embrace it and mold it into the opportunities life gives them,” he said. “You only live your life once, so why not live it the way you want to live it.”

Caldwell has been awarded a full scholarship to Mississippi State where he plans on majoring in biomedical engineering. He will attend college orientation in June, he said, and will always have good memories of his high school days. Lucci said the graduation ceremony was nearly flawless. “It was an elegant and dignified ceremony,” Lucci said.

He said all the speeches were well received by students, parents and visitors. According to Daphne Civic Center officials, it was also the first time a high school graduation event was held in the facility.

“This is the inaugural class,” senior sponsor Jane Nall said. “Maybe some of them will land in college or the military, and the jury is still out on some of them.”

According to Nall, the parents are as excited as the kids are about the graduation. She said that when these students come home again after being off they will be coming back to see the friends they have made at this school. She said in about six months it will really sink in that they may not see their old friends for a while again.

“It’s a wonderful milestone,” teacher Joni Ojard said. “They are ready for the next phase in their lives.”

“This is a big deal they are the first class graduating from Spanish Fort. It was a brand new school for the community,” parent Carol Caldwell said.

She said the school administration and teachers did a good job with what they had to deal with, especially in lieu of having middle school students there and not having athletic fields. Relatives of the Caldwell family came from Florida and Georgia and even as far away as Michigan to see her son's graduation.

Coach and teacher Gene Ponder said the class has had a different high school experience by being a brand new school.

“They have established a precedent,” with a program of superior sports and academics, he said. Lucci said he wishes all the graduates well. Lucci announced his retirement this year.

“That is what happens in this business, You have them for four years and suddenly they disappear from face of the earth,” he said.