Beaming parents, black and red balloons and excited graduates filled Coupeville High School’s auditorium Friday evening.

The school’s graduation ceremony was a night of pomp and circumstance.

“To the class of 2018, congratulations and good luck for whatever you have next,” said class Salutatorian Hunter Smith in his address to students and families.

The 70 graduates were the champions of the world, at least for the night, as the band triumphantly played “We Will Rock You” and “We are the Champions.”

The class of 2018 had four valedictorians, William Nelson, McKenzie Meyer, Allison Wenzel and Sofia Hassapis. There was one salalutatorian, Hunter Smith.

In his speech, Nelson talked about the importance of perseverance and how “it can’t be bought.”

A theme for the night was celebrating all the hard work the graduates had put into their schooling for four years and remembering to look forward to the future.

“No matter where you go, you will always be from Coupeville and you will always be Wolves at heart,” Meyer said in her valedictorian speech.

One thing that binds the class together is that they’re all from the small Town of Coupeville. It’s a name that may draw blank stares from strangers until it’s followed up with “on Whidbey Island,” and “in Puget Sound,” Meyer said.

Faculty speaker Stefanie Ask advised the graduates to be kind, take care of each other and come back and visit when they can.

“Celebrate today, but look forward to tomorrow,” Hassapis said in her valedictorian speech.

After a slideshow filled with senior photos and baby pictures, students were awarded their diplomas one by one, pausing to get their photographs taken.

Class president Christian King led his classmates in the official “turning of the tassel,” the final act of the night before the seniors tossed their caps high in the air.

Photo by Maria Matson/Whidbey News-Times Coupeville senior McKenzie Meyer receives a hug from her fellow graduate. For the story about Coupeville’s graduation Friday, turn to page A2 of today’s Whidbey News-Times.

Photos by Maria Matson/Whidbey News-Times Luke Carlson, 19, stands with his family. He plans to attend Washington State University to pursue a degree in agricultural education.