JAY — The 57 graduates receiving diplomas Sunday at Jay High School were cheered by a standing-room only crowd of well-wishers, but, as one speaker said, they will be facing a future with limited job opportunities, a poor economy and an unfolding environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Our generation is charged with taking our freshly printed diplomas in hand to start our new, productive lives but, depending on what seems like the most minuscule choices, we may not find a means to supporting ourselves,” said salutatorian Chelsea Freeman.

She said the economy was “junk,” the ongoing, massive oil spill is destroying the waters in the Gulf, glaciers are melting and global warming is a real threat.

“You, the graduating class of 2010, will soon be the ones out there with mops and shovels working to repair the damage,” she said.

“We need scientists, mathematicians and engineers. But more importantly, we need people who actually care about reform work. Try and make your surroundings better in one way or another,” she told her peers.

Freeman was optimistic about society’s future, however.

“We have a black president. It’s about time,” she said. “Women earn about the same salaries as men. Also about time.”

“Now the only thing we need to get over are the prejudices of previous generations. The graduation classes of 2010 in Zimbabwe, China and Israel all contain the same type of people with the same responsibilities and the same problems,” she said.

“If we are capable of change, let’s ensure it is for the good,” Freeman said.

Also on the program was a speech by valedictorian Kelsy Doiron and an original musical piece titled, “Moving On,” written by Jared Ouellette and performed by Ouellette and Cody Mitchell.

The senior class adviser, librarian Linda Petersen, has been involved with this group of students for four years and said they have stood out.

“I have such admiration for these kids. They could not have worked better together, and academically, they were outstanding. There were more earned senior points — which are awarded based on grades — than I have seen in years,” she said.

“This has been a phenomenal class,” said Petersen, who waited to retire until this year so that she could see these kids graduate.

Principal Gilbert Eaton announced that the graduating class will be receiving an impressive $507,000 in scholarships from colleges, local organizations and memorials and, as is the tradition, called each recipient up to the podium to be honored.

The diplomas were presented by Eaton, Superintendent Robert Wall and Jay School Committee Member Mary Redmond-Luce.