Photos: Class of 2012 Now Official Ridge Grads

About 440 students in the Class of 2012 at took a final turn around the new gym on Friday night, approaching the podium as seniors and returning to their seats as graduates bearing their diplomas.

The ceremony for the Class of 2012 was moved indoors after thunder and lightening moved in with a storm as students were arriving.

But the skies cleared and students emerged from the gym into a bright clear evening — with some heading off to Project Graduation.

Student speakers were Paul DeMarco, and Caitlin Murphy.

Superintendent Valerie Goger and Assistant Superintendent Regina Rudolph attended their last graduations, since both are retiring this year.

Goger noted she had arrived in the district just as the graduating class was entering kindergarten.

"You have matured into some of the finest people to graduate from high school," Ridge Principal Frank Howlett said prior to the students' departure from the ceremony. But he couldn't help but make a reference to Wet Wednesday, the senior week prank that spread a lot of water and a little bit of mayhem in Ridge halls last fall.

Howlett, and others, referred to the many accomplishments of the Class of 2012, be it the forensics team that won many events, including another state championship, the members of the state's best girls golf team and other victories on athletic fields and in academics.

More photos and details to come on Patch. To see video and read about students' commentary on their four years at Ridge,