The sun was out as 327 Porterville High graduates participated Friday in a celebration of the last four years and the years to come.

The ceremony, which took place at Jamison Stadium, saw fair skies, a plus to the cheerful milestone evening, Principal Steve Greybehl said.

“We’re built on tradition. We have a new set of dreams going out to capture the world, but as far as the ceremony, it’s the same. No rain,” he said with a smile. “We had a backup plan to go into the PC gymnasium, but the sun shone on Porterville once again.”

Some of the students huddled in conversation on the field before the ceremony’s start. Many were eager to begin.

“I’m excited. I want to get it done. I’m getting anxious,” Amy Lucio said. She said she is planning on attending the University of California, Santa Barbara. “I’m excited. I want to get out there.”

Thomas Corcoran had the same anticipation.

“I’m excited just to get it all behind me and go to college,” he said.

In Corcoran’s case, that the University of California, Santa Cruz, he said.

Taylor Brown as also primed.

“I’m just ready to go,” he said of his future at Point Loma University in San Diego. “I really don’t have any emotions. I’m tired of waiting for it to start.

Going to the same college is Cameron Smith, a valedictorian who savored her last moments as a high schooler mingling with her fellow valedictorians.

“I’m excited,” she said. “I think [graduation] is really the start of our lives. We’ve learned and accomplished so much, so now it’s time to put it into practice.”

Smith was one who wore a gold stole, for being a valedictorian and California Scholastic Federation member.

Another was Jeremy Eggman.

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “Very excited. It’s another stepping stone in life: you get to move on to something better, and hopefully more challenging.”

He said he is attending California State University, Fresno on a full-ride scholarship.

Alexandria Aiello stood waiting for the ceremony to begin, smiling.

“I’m excited to continue my education and keep going down the road I’m on,” she said.

Aiello said she holds the Smitt Camp Scholarship — a full-ride — for Fresno State.

Shellee Hale and Gene Cook showed up to be a part of the moment for their niece, Ashley Jones, who that night became the first in their family to graduate, Hale said.

“She’s the first one. It’s great,” Hale said. “Nobody did it but her.”

Bonnie Kettler, who came to Porterville High’s graduation ceremony to watch one of two of her sons in 1992, was back to see her grandson, Dana Higgins.

“I feel really good, because his dad didn’t graduate,” she said. “He feels funny about it, because you wake up Monday morning, and there’s no school.

But life goes on. We’re real proud of him. He worked long and hard all year.”

It took him taking zero period physical education and night school to catch up in his credits in order to graduate, she said.

Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000 Ext. 1043.