Alva Hall waited patiently in the bleachers of Free State High School’s football stadium to watch her nephew, Frederick Wyatt, pick up his diploma. But she didn’t have to wait alone.

Graduating Free State seniors launch their mortarboards high in the air during Free State's 17th commencement ceremony, held Tuesday evening at FSHS.

Hall had driven to Lawrence from Houston, Texas, just for the event, while others in Wyatt’s family came from places like Lincoln, Neb.; Atlanta, Ga., and several points in between.

But finally, when the alphabetical graduation line reached the W’s and Wyatt’s name was called out, the star football player’s entire extended family erupted in cheers and applause.

Decked out in a beaded necklace, Graduating Free State senior Cheyenne Culley flashes a smile as she heads back to her seat after receiving her diploma cover during Free State's 17th commencement ceremony, held Tuesday evening at FSHS.

“We all drove here just for this graduation,” Hall said. “We’ve been here and we’ve been having a good time.”

Wyatt, who plans on attending Northwestern University next fall, was one of 347 graduating seniors who received diplomas Tuesday night during Free State’s 17th commencement ceremony. But he wasn’t the only one whose family traveled long distances for the event.

Matthew Winfrey said he traveled from Alaska, and his mother came from San Francisco, to watch his son, Matthew Winfrey, Jr., walk across the stage.

“It feels pretty good,” the senior Winfrey said. “I’m very proud of him.”

Despite an unusually warm afternoon for Kansas in May, those who attended were treated to a picture-perfect evening as the sun went down and cool breeze lowered the temperature to the mid 70s.

Graduating Free State senior Alex Cataudella pets an eight-week-old chug named Joan that faculity member Elaine Elliott brought around as the seniors lined up around the track during Free State's 17th commencement ceremony, held Tuesday evening at FSHS.

Lawrence school board president Rick Ingram gave a lighthearted keynote by passing along some “secrets” to adult life.

“First, there is no such thing as a permanent record,” he said. “Second, if you bounce a beach ball at graduation, you’ll still graduate.”

But on a more serious note, Ingram urged the seniors to remember to thank their parents, family and friends who helped them along the way through school.

Siel Snowden one of the two student speakers, urged her classmates to remain as hopeful and excited as they were when they were all still strangers to one another on their first day at Free State three years ago.

“Somewhere in any group of strangers are people who will shape you, love you and support you. You just haven’t met them yet,” she said.

Hannah Heline, the other student speaker, talked about some of the lessons she learned watching “Tom & Jerry” cartoons. Drawing analogies to real life, she challenged her classmates to continue trying new things and “never stop improving.”

For Kitty Ware, whose son Adam was among the graduates, it was a satisfying way to celebrate a milestone in her child’s life.

“He rocks, and this was a wonderful ceremony,” she said. “I thought the speeches were tremendous. It was fun.”