SALEM TOWNSHIP — Mount Abram High School graduates Friday evening gave advice, bid each other farewell and offered appreciation for those who encouraged and inspired them along the way.

The 62 seniors shared laughs, tears and a few adventures during commencement exercises.

They were ushered by Class Marshals Tiernnan Tooker and Risa Marble through the rows of relatives and friends seated in the gymnasium.

Salutatorian Bailey DeBiase told the audience she was inspired by the songs of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of the popular Broadway musical “Hamilton.” She said she knew her classmates had heard her singing some of the songs in the past few months.

“This is not a moment; it’s the movement,” she quoted from one of the musical’s songs. Moments are ephemeral and their special when they happen, but they fade, she said.

“Tonight is the beginning of a movement, for all of us, to bigger and better things,” she said. “As the moments of tonight start to fade into memories, go start your movement.”

Valedictorian Courtland Talmage encouraged classmates to discover their uniqueness. “No one is born special,” he said. “You must do something that truly is unique and important to be deemed special.”

He told them to find what they have to offer the world and to offer it “in abundance.” Stepping out of one’s comfort zone was critical to growth and success, even though living in mediocrity might be tempting, he said.

Principal Michelle Tranten urged seniors to “be kind” as they go out into the world.

As if to demonstrate a lesson already learned, Sage Riendeau received his diploma from Superintendent Susan Pratt and warmly hugged his mother and teacher Tabitha Riendeau, who was sitting with the other staff members.

Tranten also announced that $360,073 in scholarships was awarded to the graduates.

Thirteen of them are members of the National Honor Society, five graduated Magna Cum Laude and four graduated Cum Laude, all of them for all four years

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