211 Graduate from Fridley High School (PHOTOS)

After all the speeches were made and the mortarboards flown, 211 students completed their educational curriculum, graduating as part of the class of 2012.

Of those students, 103 graduated with Honors—achieving a final Grade Point Average of 3.0 or more. And 29 of those students graduated with Highest Honors, earning a GPA above 3.75.

Daniel Johnson, National Merit Scholarship winner and International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate, graduated with Highest Honors and quoted Pearl S. Buck in his speech to students:

"The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible, and achieve it, generation after generation".

Renee Gorp, Fridley High Principal quoted Winston Churchill in her address to the students and guests:

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts."

Students Shirley Cooper and Haleigh Duncan also spoke, while Tim Leistikow, a Language Arts teacher, was chosen by the students as the Faculty Speaker.

The Fridley High School Concert Band, led by Michael Pearson, played the traditional "Pomp and Circumstances" by Elgar as the Processional and "Excerpts from the Firebird" by Stravinsky.

The Fridley High School Concert Choir entertained the packed house with "Thank You" by Carole Bayer Sager, led by Bruce Messer and accompanied by David Schut.