VIDEO: Graduating Class of 2011 Says: 'So Long Seekonk High School'

There were cheers, tears and a whole lot of smiles at Seekonk High School's Connolly Field as 139 seniors accepted their diplomas during the school's Class of 2011 graduation ceremony. 

The cheers were for the many things the Class of 2011 experienced during their four years at Seekonk High School, including crossing Mr. Crippen's bridge, watching Mr. Mello set his classroom on fire and watching Jody Halliday do the worm during Spirit Week.

The tears were for the their gym teacher, Karen Stone, who died in November, and fellow classmates Jacob Mayo and Mariah Burda, who would have graduated with the class if they were still alive today.

The smiles were for their parents, family and friends, who watched them cross the stage, accept their diplomas and enter a new chapter in their lives. 

Valedictorian Ashley Richards told her 138 graduating classmates to "live life as if you were to die tomorrow and learn as if you were to live forever," while Salutatorian Liliana Sykes encouraged classmates to make mistakes and take risks in order to learn.

Principal Marcia McGovern shared stories of what life was like when she was a senior and encouraged the students to attend their reunions in order to see old friends and make new ones. McGovern also used the words of Mark Twain to remind students that 20 years from now they will be more disappointed by things they did not do than the ones they did. 

"Go out in the world, Class of 2011, with the knowledge that you will make a difference," McGovern told the seniors. "Don't let the bumps in the road completely derail you from accomplishing your goals."