Carson City's first graduating class to receive the Millennium Scholarship walked away with about $2.5 million to attend a college or university in Nevada.
An additional $1.5 million was awarded to the senior class of 2000 through various other venues.
"Once again, Carson City is one of the top scholarship-winning schools in the state," said Principal Glen Adair. "Some of these graduates are headed for the finest educational institutions in America."
Arrayed in gowns of blue and white, 449 Carson City High School graduates accepted their diplomas Saturday morning in the commencement ceremony held on the school's football field.
"I've waited 18 years for this," said graduate Laura Borst. "I finally get to move out of my parents' house and I'm moving in with my best friend to go to college."
For Francesca Quintana, the taste of victory was especially sweet.
"I never thought this was really going to happen," she said. "It's exciting."
Quintana struggled to pass the math portion of the proficiency exam, which is a requirement to graduate.
She finally passed in April.
"I was so excited," Quintana said. "I was jumping up and down and screaming in the halls. Everybody knew when I passed."
The ceremony featured student speakers including the valedictorian and salutatorian.
However, the program did not include a keynote speaker. Adair said the administration decided about five years ago to not include an outside speaker to conserve time.
"We have students speak on their own behalf," Adair said. "We don't want to keep people here all afternoon."
Valedictorian Jennifer Turner said she gave God full credit for her academic success.
"It is only through God's grace that I have the honor of directing Carson High School's class of 2000," she said. "We have all been blessed with special gifts that will set us apart and bind us together."
Before the ceremony, she said it is important for everyone to keep God in their lives.
"I think we all need to keep God close to our hearts as we go forward from this day," she said. "There's nothing more important than following Christ. He is our Savior and our Lord, without Him, we are lost."
Salutatorian Dawn Haddan thanked the community, teachers and families for the support given to the graduates.
She said her family has been her biggest support.
"My family is the most important part of my life," she said before the ceremony. "They've supported me in everything I've done and I know they'll always be there for me."
During the ceremony, restless graduates tossed beach balls into the air. Among the balls was a red-headed blow-up doll.
Adair asked that the balls and the doll be held still during the ceremony.
He joked: "The red-head in the second row is going to cause us to redefine our dress code."
Antics aside, Cheryl Stoddard, activities director at the high school, said she was impressed with this year's class.
"From my perspective, we had a great group of leaders," Stoddard said. "There's a lot of success stories in this class."
To end the ceremony, graduates threw their caps into the air.
"It was awesome," said graduate Nick Reinhardt after recovering his cap. "It was fun to know you're finally done."
