By Peter O’Cain and Chris Tucker

KITSAP COUNTY —Flinging graduation caps and flowers into the air, the class of 2015 from area high schools celebrated a significant milestone in their lives during commencement ceremonies this past week.

Family members and friends filled all the seats at Bremerton Memorial Stadium and even overflowed onto the grassy hill to watch 232 graduates walk.

“The Class of 2015 is a force to be reckoned with, a family not to be messed with. A group of people who will uphold the Knight way as an example for future generations to come,” said Jameelah Henzel, senior class secretary for Bremerton High School.

Keynote speaker Chris Swanson, a career counselor at BHS, told graduates of four life lessons he’s learned:

1. Work ethic pays off.

2. Problem solving never goes out of style.

3. Relationships matter.

4. The greatest rewards are realized through giving back.

“Know that the real inspiration is both within you and around you,” Swanson said. “You have demonstrated impressive work ethic, grit and determination; aptitude for complex problem solving; the value of developing meaningful relationships through teamwork and mutual respect; and the importance of giving back.”

Valedictorian Signe Bergman was particularly optimistic.

“I hope that we all feel prepared and excited for the future, proud of our achievements and confident in our abilities,” Bergman said.

Camera flashes fired and friends, family and graduates waved at one another as the Olympic High School Class of 2015 Commencement got under way at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds on June 11.

“We are seniors … did anyone really expect that we would get here this soon?,” asked Valedictorian Allisa Horst the blue-gowned sea of fellow students seated before her.

“Well, after all of the drama and the dances and the late night procrastinating and the Oreo shake Fridays, we finally arrived and we arrived together.

“Now, let’s do that cheesy thing and look around us: Look at your friends, look at your family and realize that this is the last day that we will be together.”

Horst said time wasted is not wasted time, and that students should enjoy life even if they felt what they were doing – such as eating with friends – seemed rather mundane.

Don’t look back, keep moving forward with curiosity, Horst said.

“Let’s not look backward … let’s now go forward and do great things. Congrats class of 2015. We made it.”

At Central Kitsap High School’s commencement on June 12, senior class speaker Kelsey Scott said CKHS teachers have given her class of 2015 the knowledge they needed to be successful.

“Graduating high school is a significant accomplishment, that much is true. But the actual experience of graduating means something different for all of us,” Scott said.

“Some of us are nervous, anxious or terrified of the big scary world and being swallowed up in it. Others of us are excited, relieved, or merely happy to think that soon we will be getting paid to wake up early.

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have and make ‘now’ the primary focus of your life. Take what you’ve learned over the last 12 years and put it to good use,” Scott said.

Central Kitsap School District Supertintendent David McVicker said he was proud of the graduates. He praised teachers, staff, parents and community members for their efforts.

“You’ve done an outstanding job in the preparation of these graduates and they are an honor to you and an honor to all of us,” McVicker said.

“When you receive your diploma you will join a long history of proud Central Kitsap High School graduates who have gone forward to take their place in a challenging world … we see in your our best hope for the future,” McVicker said.