Facing the future with a realistic outlook while recognizing the importance of friends were among the themes expressed as Laconia High School's Class of 2009 graduated.

Friday's ceremony marked the school's 131st commencement exercises.

Principal Steven Beals said observations were made after Class Night that the class was more individualistic and did not seem to come together as a class.

"In the past three days you rose to any occasion and my highlights center on your attitude and participation," Beals said, stressing that the class exhibited a strong sense of unity over the course of the three days leading up to graduation, including the class trip to Boston.

Beals said students thanked him for letting them go on the trip and many said they got the opportunity to speak to people they had never spoke to through four years.

"I will argue with all in attendance that this class distinguished itself in the past three days, culminating with your graduation tonight," he said.

His last thoughts to students came from the motto for a hotel chain.

"As you leave Laconia High School, come back and see us. We'll leave a light on for you," he said.

Beals also recognized several faculty and staff members who have retired and are "transitioning" out of the school district.

Valedictorian Merinda Nugent spoke to students about keeping a perspective on what awaits them after high school.

"Graduating high school is not a major accomplishment, it's a milestone," she said. "We need to look at things in perspective. This is just the beginning."

Nugent said students have received strong guidance from parents and teachers, though after graduation "no one is going to be there to hold your hand along the way." Students will be responsible for themselves and face the possibility that hard work and dedication might not keep them from failure.

Class marshals Rosalie Philpot and Joshua Bennett escort the Laconia High School Class of 2009 onto the athletic field for Friday's commencement exercises. (Alan MacRae/for The Citizen)

"What's now is to live the best lives we can and hoping after all the challenges and hardships we'll find a sliver of joy," Nugent said.

Laconia Police Chief Mike Moyer was the keynote speaker. A graduate with the Class of 1979, Moyer will be attending his 30th class reunion this year.

"Thirty years ago this week, I sat where you're all sitting tonight, wondering what the heck I was going to do with my future," he said.

Moyer said his graduating class faced the challenges of another tough economic time with gas shortages and other problems.

"Things certainly did not look bright for our future. The country, of course, rebounded. The country will rebound from its recent crisis," he said.

"I hope and trust that whatever you choose to do, you make choices that are right for you. I am sure that you will look back as I often do with fondness and grateful for the teaching staff at Laconia High School."

Moyer said students will miss the school and all the times they had, from the lights over the football field for games to plays to band practice.

"I bet that you will, as I still do 30 years later, miss that old building that stands here tonight," he said.

Moyer also spoke of the importance of friends and maintaining and honoring friendships made in high school, saying he still does activities and spends time with people he knew from high school.

"With MySpace, texting and Twitter — whatever Twitter is — technology has made it easier for you, the Class of 2009, to keep up with your friends," Moyer said. "Friendship is crucial to your lives. Your friends will be there for you every step of the way," though "friendship must be proven and at times it must be put to the test."

Moyer spoke of the "outpouring of love and support" he has seen from students after the deaths of Ben Emmond and Alex Rowson in a car accident in 2008. He noted the support that followed, ranging from student gatherings, a scholarship, bumper stickers and many other events.

Laconia Police Chief Michael Moyer delivers the keynote address during Friday night's commencement exercises at Laconia High School. (Alan MacRae/for The Citizen)

"The grief I saw on your faces is something I will never forget," he said. "You are all special for the way you handled this tragedy."

Laconia School Board Chair Scott Vachon said the memory of graduation will eventually fade and students will eventually be faced with "the dawn of your life."

"My hope for you is you will have lived a life so rich and full," Vachon said. "I tell you today that we are not in the worst shape we've ever been."

Vachon pointed out how people in the audience have been through times from World War II to escaping their countries as refugees and that "each of them can tell you what bad really feels like. There are problems in America but you should not look at this time in our history as nothing but a perfect opportunity."

Laconia High School Class of 2009

Shane Joshua Abbott, Douglas Bryan Allen, Geremy Park Annis, Devin Michelle Arsenault, Chelsea Elizabeth Baker, Joshua Alec Baker, Abigail Kathrine Ball, Cheyenne Michelle Barcus, Khem Baskota, Benjamin Ryan Bauman, Sean Grant Beattie, Ashley Marie Beauregard, Julie Lucille Behan, Samantha Lee Berg, Cassandra Lynn Bilodeau, Megan Millie Bird, Christian Alexander Birt, John Benjamin Bixby, Jamie Paul Boisselle, Jacob Robert Bordeau, Alex James Boudreau, Katherine Anne Bourn, Erinn Colleen Bownes, Nicholas Charles Bragg, David Joe Brown, Christian Dean Buliung, Kayla Sue Carignan, Kaylee Marie Cass, Alexander Charles Cimon, Kyle Austin Clark, Steven Henry Clavett, Beau Charles Clough, Faolan Thomas Connelly, Nicholas Martin Converse, Joseph Edward Costello, Jeffrey Michael Cotter, Erica Laurel Cross, Benoit Jeffrey Crowell, Michael Christopher Daoust, Nicholas Fitzgerald Dargy-Payette, James Earl LeMoine Dearborn, Lora Gayle Deducca, Mark Anthony DeGara, Trevor Cary Denauw, Deven Wayne Yale Dix, Kate Ellen Dobens, Brandon Gregory Doucette, Joseph Michael Duplessie, Sarah Elizabeth Edwards, Peter Richard Evans, Brianna Michelle Farley, Danielle Elyse Fecteau, Kaylee Lynn Fecteau, Margaret Yvonne Flanagan, Christopher Eric Freeman, Alicia Courtney Gilbert, Jeremiah Robert Gilbert, Scott Edward Gillis, Jr., John Mark Goldthwaite, Ashlee Louise Goyette, Zachary Jordan Hamel, Tara Lynn Harris, Jeffrey Robert Harrison, Aleana Samantha Haselton, Jordan C. Hawthorne, Nicole Marie Heatley, Michael Edward Holmes, Nickolas Scott Holmes, Kelsey Jordan Honeycutt, Felicia Darleen Houle, Tyler Joseph Houle, Felicia Lillian-Rose Howard, Curran Elise Hubbard, Rebecca Dawn Huntoon, Brianna Marie Hurshman, Kyrie Lynn Hutchinson, Abram Thomas Isabelle, Arsenije Jagodic-Kuridza, Cameron Spencer Jakows, Matthew Paul Jenkins, Russell Lee Jones, Azra Karabegovic, Emily Elizabeth Kean, Matthew Paul King, Taylor Elizabeth Knytych, Kayne Stephen Frederick Kreitzer, Ashley Elizabeth Kurtz, Tayren Lee Labrecque, Timothy Joseph LaLiberte, Kyle Joseph Laliberte, Talia Christina Landof, Karena Patricia Lange, Sage Ellington Lange, Joshua James Langlois, Ka Po Daisy Lee, Brittany Corine Legassie, Robert Andrew Leonardo, Erica Rose Leroux, Zachary Joseph Lesko-Lebeau, Tyler Murphy L'Heureux, Lance Scott Lingard, Corey Nathan Lounsbrough, Aaron Scott Luneau, Heather Monique Marcheterre, Rachel Elizabeth Marden, Mattia Martinengo, Carmelo Joseph Messina, David Steven Miller, Skylor Elizabeth Miller, Amanda Corona Mills, Alexis Mooney, Daghen William Moore, Joshua Charles Moore, Magey Mae Morrill, Nathan Jerome Moss, Merinda Rose Nugent, Shanan David O'Hara, Brady Norman O'Neil, Marissa Kai Parent, Morgan Ann Pasquali, Tiffany Paige Patraw, Andrew Hilton Perkins, Melissa Lynn Perry†, Jessica Mae Peters, Lindsay Ann Philibotte, Tristanie Rae Plourde, Heather Sarah Pomeranz, Kenneth James Powell, Hannah Grace Rae, Christy Rose Rawson, Scott Edward Richards, Daniel Edsom Roberts, Nicholas Alan Robinson, Mollinda Roeum, Marisa Lee Russell, Vanessa Lynn Russell, Cody James Ryan, Spencer Timothy Ryan, Chantelle Sanchez, Todd M. Santti, Jessica Anne Sardinha, Melissa Mae Sarson, Mathew David Schuster, Kelsey Marie Sewell, Brittany Nicole Simkins, Alicia Renee Simmons, Cassandra Lee Smith, Steven Ryan Smith, Ashley Catherine Snow, Kaitlyn Mae Staples, Ruby Lynn Stillings, Ashley Ann Theberge, Miranda Ann Threlfall, Michael Scott Tikkanen, Crystal Marie Tusi, Arron James Tweedie, Matthew Lawrence Urbaniak, Astopheline Uwimana, Samantha Marie Vaillancourt, Petko Vlacic, Mateja Vojnovic, Kevin Vorachith, Kayla Marie Walters, Justin Allen Wirth, Kevin Quay Wollmar, Alyson Nichole Wood, Andrew Paul York, Tyler Paul Young, and Mona Zecevic.