WILLOW WOOD — Friday evening, 65 graduates from Symmes Valley High School closed out their high school careers at the school’s graduation ceremony.

The ceremony began with the graduates entering the gymnasium to “Pomp and Circumstance” played by the band before graduate Jensyn Shepherd said an invocation and graduate Austin Waugh leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

The band continued the program with the Alma Mater, followed by superintendent Darrell Humphries giving the audience a welcome.

“This class has represented our district well,” Humphries said. “We’re very proud of them and their many accomplishments.”

Out of the 65 total graduates, five graduated Summa Cum Laude, Derik Brace, Grace Jenkins, Kinsey Kazee, Kinzi Kitts and Kenneth Whitehead, 12 graduated Magna Cum Laude and 16 graduated with Cum Laude.

Principal Greg Bowman introduced the five Summa Cum Laude students for their speeches before the recognition of academic achievement and the senior class officers.

The Class of 2018 then received their diplomas before a video presentation was played, Hannah Lewis reading the benediction and the band playing a recessional to conclude.

The class motto was a quote by Winston Churchill; “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”