PARIS — “Happiness is not a pursuit. It is right here. Right now,” said Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Valedictorian Jeremy Read during the 50th anniversary of the high school commencement Saturday evening.

In what turned out to be a beautiful sunny evening following a week filled with torrential rain, some 230 members of the Class of 2012 received their high school diplomas at the Gouin Athletic Complex as their families, friends, school faculty and staff watched with pride.

“They’re nice,” said Principal Ted Moccia when asked what he would remember most about the class before telling the students, “Be nice. It will come back to you ten-fold in the future.”

The students, dressed in white and green robes, some wearing colorfully embellished mortarboards, marched onto the football field just after 7 p.m. Class Vice President Kyle Rainey welcomed classmates, family and friends by saying simply, “Wow. This has been a long time coming.”

In his salutatorian address, Logan Boucher said he spent some time in school being angry and finally realized what a wonderful school he attended and that despite differences with even his best friend, they could and should be ironed out. He used this as a lesson for the future and urged his classmates to do the same.

“It feels so much better to be at peace with someone, even if that peace is silence,” he said. “Don’t dwell upon the bad things. Practice forgiveness and most of all don’t be afraid to care.”

In the valedictorian’s speech, Jeremy Read said happiness is a way of life that can be achieved by taking part in life.

“Let’s make the pursuit of happiness our goals,” he said. Before adding that where they stood that evening receiving their diplomas was happiness, “right here, right now.”

“Life is too short to miss,” Read said.

Samantha Hatch, the class secretary, introduced the commencement speaker, Julia Clukey. Clukey is an Olympic luger, who represented the United States in the 2010 winter games and intends to go to the Olympics again in 2014.

Clukey, a native of Augusta, told the students that no matter what, they must be willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

Believe in yourself, have the courage to try new things, take risks and have a high threshold for frustration, she told the students.

Class President Abigail Morton gave the closing remarks before leading the graduates in a candle-lighting ceremony as a unifying gesture.

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