WESLEY CHAPEL - The scoreboard on the Wesley Chapel High School football field read "Wildcats 2003" on Friday, but it wasn't for the football team.
It was all for the graduating seniors who were making history by being the first to attend all four years.
They were freshmen at the brand new high school in 1999. The band played Pomp and Circumstance as 295 seniors wearing navy-blue caps and gowns filed onto the field for the last time as students.
Principal Andy Frelick began the commencement ceremony with encouraging words.
"All of us are proud of you," he said. "We are proud of what you are going to do for our country."
Class leaders spoke of fun times and memorable highlights, including sports teams that won titles or reached the playoffs.
"We are the largest senior class in Wesley Chapel history," valedictorian Bambi Carrino said to her classmates.
"They will never have the same history, because we are the history."
The graduates applauded.
Students' excitement could not be contained as some jokesters tossed around beach balls during speeches. Later, the Wave broke out.
Bambi continued, undaunted.
"Never forget that before we were movie stars and business owners, we were Wildcats." she said.
More than 2,000 people gathered on the field's bleachers to watch and congratulate the grads.
Some 200 others, many with cameras and balloons, spilled onto the field's track area to watch the ceremony.
The camcorder rolled as Lonnie Collins waited to hear administrators call the name of his stepson, Michael Nasrallah.
"I'm proud of him," he said, beaming. "He holds down a job and is going to school. I'm just real excited for his future."
For Odell Maggart, this is the last high school graduation she plans to attend. Her granddaughter Ashley Maggart, 17, is the last of her four grandchildren to receive a diploma. A host of friends and family gathered to watch and cheer.
"To graduate high school is a feat," Ashley's aunt, Barbara Griffin said. "She stuck it out."
Joey Zummo, 19, was the last to cross the stage. He made it memorable by taking a bow.
The sign on the back of Zummo's gown read, "The-end! We made it! Class of 2003."
