St. Petersburg High School: Michael Vu, left and Tyler Zimmer sing the school's alma mater during their graduation ceremony Thursday.
NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN GRADUATING CLASS: 447 SIZE OF CLASS WHEN IT STARTED HIGH SCHOOL: 665 VALEDICTORIAN, Traditional Program: Aimee Hollingworth
VALEDICTORIAN, International Baccalaureate Program: Matthew LeVine
SALUTATORIAN, Traditional Program: Joel Lombardi
SALUTATORIAN, International Baccalaureate Program: Hayley Jade Fink
SPEAKERS: Principal Julie Janssen; Hollingworth; LeVine; Emilia Brunello, senior class president; Cedric Roberts, student council president
BEST QUOTE: "A big part of me still feels like a little girl on the sidelines watching the big kids get their diplomas. . . . It's time for that little girl to become one of those big kids',' Brunello said.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Almost 200 graduates are members of the National Honor Society - the most the school has ever seen.
HOW MANY ARE GOING INTO MILITARY: 8 percent will head off to work or the military.
HOW MANY ARE GOING TO COLLEGE: 82 percent plan to attend community colleges or universities.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Flying by in green gowns, graduates raced down the hallways - cameras in hand - to hug friends and family members. A group of graduates attempted the wave while lining up in the gym. Most cheered during the march onto Stewart Field.
BEST GRADUATION ACCESSORY: A blue oriental fan given to graduate Jessica Pryor by her mom. "It's to keep cool during the (outdoor) ceremony," she said.
BEFORE THE CEREMONY: "It hasn't hit me yet," said graduate Aileen Santos while applying pink lip gloss and chatting with friends. "I can't comprehend that it's the last time."
SPECIAL GUESTS: Nancy Bostock of the Pinellas County School Board; Area II superintendent Lewis Williams; Area II director of operations William Grey; Linda Benware, the high school's former principal.
CLASS SONGS: A New World, sung by Christine Fasan and Katie Lee; I Will Be There for You, sung by Arianna Hoeppner.
CLASS GIFT: New cherry wood podium for the theater, engraved with a "Class of 2004" plaque.
WHERE WAS THE BEST PARTY SUPPOSED TO BE: Alcohol- and drug-free bash at the St. Petersburg YMCA until 2 a.m. with rock climbing, volleyball, karaoke and a used-car giveaway.
