Despite overcast skies, the mood was bright as a line of red robes took the field at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium.

Carpinteria High School held its 2024 graduation Friday as family and friends cheered from the packed bleachers.

In his opening address, Carpinteria High School Principal Gerardo Cornejo commended the class that started high school during the beginning of the pandemic and defied the odds.

“You started in ninth grade flickering on those little screens, but yet you burn as a collective fire that is brighter than ever,” Cornejo said.

He continued by encouraging the class to take on new challenges and to not be afraid as they entered a new stage in their lives.

“Remember, the world needs your unique spark, your imagination, and your pursuit of excellence,” he said.

Cornejo also announced that 71 seniors received rewards from Santa Barbara City College for completing college credits – completing a total of 523 credits among them.

Other speakers at the event included valedictorian Lizbeth Alpizar Farfan and salutatorian Jackson Wade Melton.

In his speech, Melton quoted Bob Marley and spoke about how it felt to enter high school in the peak of the pandemic.

“As we take our first steps toward the next phase of our lives, many of us will experience the bittersweet mix of excitement and sadness as one chapter of our life ends and another begins,” Melton said.

“But rather than fearing these inevitable changes, we must embrace them as part of our journey.”

Farfan spoke about the challenges she faced in her education, from barely speaking English when she started school and being a first-generation Mexican American.

She went on to thank her parents and sister for their support before turning to her classmates.

“As I stand here today, reflecting on our journey, we must remember that this is not the end, but a new beginning,” Farfan said.

“Class of 2024, we have proven our resilience time and time again.”