FARMINGTON – The theme at Mt. Blue High School’s 40th commencement ceremony on Saturday was “new beginnings.”

The celebration began with a speech from graduating senior Nicole Grant, who asked the question, “When everything changes, what will be missing?”

At the conclusion she said, “My friendships will help me with my new beginnings.”

The 2008 graduating class included 187 students, the majority of whom will head to college in the fall, both locally and out of state.

Valedictorian Elisabeth Stancioff described the class of 2008 as “the Harry Potter generation.” She ended her speech with, “We have the rest of our lives ahead of us. That’s pretty exciting.”

Graduating student P.J. Brophy gave a poetic speech, stating, “We made it through the good times and the bad … live these moments to the fullest.”

Before the presentation of diplomas, Principal Joe Moore summed up the other three speeches, which all had the theme of “new beginnings.” He said, “You find the meaning in your lives and go after it with passion.”

As the students received their diplomas, the gymnasium was filled with clapping and shouting as other students, family members and friends celebrated the achievements of the graduates.

Between speeches, there were musical performances by student James Rossi who sang Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son;” the Mt. Blue Voices, which performed a Zombies medley; and Travis Pinkham who sang his song “Looking Back.”