Seniors are looking to their futures beyond Palo Alto High School following a Baccalaureate ceremony Sunday at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts.

Principal Kim Diorio welcomed the audience, speaking about her admiration of the ceremony and those involved in it.

“Of all the events that take place at Paly, Baccalaureate is by far my favorite,” Diorio said during her welcome. “Prepare to be inspired, excited and pleasantly surprised by the talent and the spirit of the class of 2018.”

Senior class president Noga Hurwitz addressed her peers, urging them to practice compassion as they move on from Paly.

“Today — or rather Thursday [the day of graduation] — marks the beginning,” Hurwitz said in her speech. “Wherever your new path takes you, I implore you to carry with you the spirit of Paly, a spirit of compassion towards ourselves and compassion towards others. That is how we will make a difference.”

Paly alumnus Miguel Fattoria was the final speaker. Fattoria is the program director of DreamCatchers, a tutoring organization that connects low-income middle schoolers with local high school and university students. In his speech, he recounted his own history with the district and encouraged the seniors to maintain compassion throughout their lives.

“Positivity, kindness, respect … empathy and action, compassion; [understand] that these guide you on your journeys in your years to come, and that by doing so, and being that kind of person, you will have found what it is you’re looking for at the end of your journeys,” Fattoria said. “Along the way you will leave your mark on this world as one community.”

Click below to see images of the ceremony.