Ocean City Bids 337 Seniors Farewell at Graduation Ceremony

Ocean City High School graduated the 337 seniors of the Class of 2012 in a commencement ceremony at Carey Stadium on Wednesday.

Perhaps befitting of a school a block from the Atlantic Ocean, a blustery north wind sent mortarboards flying and created a deep rumble across the PA system throughout the ceremony.

Graduation speaker Kirsten Raab (No. 3 in class rank) used Ocean City's unique geography as part of speech that asked her classmates to think about that one degree that separates still water at 211 degrees from boiling water at 212.

"It is not simply our close proximity to the beach or easy access to the boardwalk, but our unique high school experience as a whole that has shaped us as individuals," Raab said.

Ocean City High School takes pride not just in its seaside location, its academics and athletics, but in its sense of community. Raab challenged her peers to use that shared Ocean City experience "to move forward in your lives with the goal of making that one-degree difference."

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In his salutatorian remarks, Matthew Caulfield suggested that life — like singing a song or even working at — is defined by the decisions an individual makes.

He asked his classmates to consider the decisions that would help them achieve personal success and touch the lives of others.

Valedictorian Sarah Ford said she was reminded as a child "to shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

Ford asked the Class of 2012 to use their "unique array of strengths" to "leave here today in vigorous pursuit of your moon."

The ceremony included a traditional salute to the graduating class of 50 years ago. The Class of 1962 — 138 strong — endured the legendary Storm of '62 a few months before graduating on the same day and date as the Class of 2012: another Wednesday, June 13.

Scroll through our gallery of photographs from the commencement ceremony by clicking on the images icons above. If you have your own photos of the graduation, upload them here. Anybody can do it. Just click on the "Upload Photos and Videos" button.

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