As the gown-clad Bishop Stang High School senior class made their way up to the stage to collect their diplomas on June 4, the ceremony halted unexpectedly as Sarah Hamel’s name was called.

After a few tense moments, she was adorned with a bouquet of flowers and officially recognized as the 10,000th graduate of the school.

“I was so confused at first, but they did say it would happen during the ceremonies,” Hamel recalled, adding that she never expected it to be her out of the 138 seniors bidding a final farewell to the school.

Hamel is also recognized as the Class of 2017 salutatorian. While she’ll miss her classmates and the memories she has gained in her years of attending Bishop Stang, she’s already preparing for the next stage of life. She will attend Bridgewater State University to study communication disorders.

The graduation ceremony included words of wisdom from students, school administrators, and officials from the Fall River Diocese. Valedictorian Francesca Marini praised her fellow classmates for following their passions and inspiring others, be it on the football field, in the art studio, behind the scenes of a school play, or in the classroom studying hard.

“We have all affected one another in both ordinary and extraordinary ways,” Marini said in her speech. “Our time at Bishop Stang is sending us on a trajectory to pursue life with a strong, involved, and responsible work ethic, a compassionate eye toward helping the community, and a healthy sense of humor.”

Alumni speaker Father Richard Roy addressed the state of a world marred by terrorism and political unrest. He recalled a life-changing moment just a few months into his freshman year, when, on November 22, 1963, classes were paused for a school-wide announcement of the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot.

He recited Kennedy’s famous quote — “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country” — and advised graduates to live up to that oath by getting involved. He reminded students that their faith and commitment to helping others can help guide them in making the world a better and safer place.

After the speeches and diploma distribution, students gathered outside to perform the customary cap toss and say their goodbyes.

Both Jack Lamarre and Audria Harrington enjoyed Bishop Stang’s senior prom as one of their final memories of Bishop Stang as they prepare to leave Dartmouth to attend college out-of-state. A normally difficult transition will be a bit easier, because they’re both going to the University of Tampa to study international business and biology, respectively.

“It’s definitely going to help knowing at least one person there,” Harrington said.