Amidst a sea of expectant parents, relatives and siblings, the Mercer Island High School Class of 2009 streamed confidently up the aisles of the large hall and onward into the next phase of their young lives.

The school graduated 325 students on June 11 during a ceremony held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle. MIHS Principal John Harrison greeted the huge crowd gathered for the occasion and formally presented the class to the Mercer Island School Board of Directors, certifying their fitness and recommending that they all be awarded diplomas.

“Welcome to this incredibly positive celebration of Mercer Island youth,” Harrison said.

MIHS senior class officers Josh Radman, Jacob Bloom, Peyton Bell and Forrest Marowitz and nine valedictorians gathered on the dais alongside administration and faculty members. The students all took turns at the podium, celebrating class accomplishments and joking about the onset of “senioritis”.

“Living in the moment,” said valedictorian Inar Zhang, pausing for the laughter to subside. “I’m really taking that truly simple mantra from second semester senior year to heart. I have to say, the classes feel really, really good.”

The eight other valedictorians were Juli Gittelman, Peyton Bell, Michio Taya, Michele Zemplenyi, Rory Lubner, Colin Ramsay, Derek Schulte and Rebecca Yoda.

Wearing maroon robes decorated with an assortment of medallions, cords and leis made of flowers and leaves, the procession of graduates took on a festive air. Families shouted for joy as graduates were called by name for their diplomas, and faculty members in the front row yelled out their congratulations while their former students departed in pairs. School Board member Lisa Strauch Eggers ran out to personally offer her son, Lucas, his degree.

“You have no control over what other people think of you. You have to support and believe in yourself,” she said, addressing the students.

And several young men, whether out of irreverent humor or an effort to stay comfortable, dispatched with most of their undergarments altogether. Bounding up the stage, Marowitz appeared to toss a pair of shorts toward the dais as he received his diploma.

The ceremonies also featured words inspired by a William Butler Yeats poem, “Coming of Wisdom with Time,” from faculty speaker Jeff Randolph, a humorous turn from senior class speaker Matt Stofsky and closing remarks by Principal Harrison.

Stofsky teased faculty and administrators over some of the unique aspects of a MIHS education, such as the Bridges program.

“There’s definitely a few things we’ll miss about high school,” he said. “In the real world, Monday mornings don’t come with a light snack after a discussion about bullying.”

Common themes resonated with the graduates: family, community, optimism and hanging out at the ’Q (the South-end QFC parking lot). Several speakers also made pop-culture references to text messaging, Lululemon yoga pants, hip-hop musician T-Pain, TV show “Lost” character John Locke, and using the word “Fail” as a noun. They were warmly applauded or earned standing ovations.

“Soak up the lying of their youth, but don’t misread Yeats. You can’t be idle,” Randolph said. “Remember to take risks … Don’t be afraid of the ‘epic fail.’”

Perhaps the highlight of the evening, however, came from the display of class musical talent. The performances ranged from an instrumental version of pop-band Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” to a guitar solo from Ben Fang and ended with a jazzy ensemble featuring the singing of Gennie Gebhart. The music and lyrics were written by Leeran Raphaely and Gebhart especially for the graduation event.

Four salutatorians, Christopher Gelon, Jordan Altaras, Ross Di Julio and Paula Trepman, were also honored.

Navigating his way through the throng of people in the hall, local attorney Jeff Tilden appeared eager to see his son, Saul.

Asked how he felt about the occasion, Tilden took a long pause.

“That’s a tough one,” he said. “We sure are going to miss him when he’s gone. It’s a symbol he’s about to leave.”

“Coming of Wisdom with Time”

By W.B. Yeats:

“Though leaves are many, the root is one;

Through all the lying days of my youth

I swayed my leaves and flowers in the sun;

Now I may wither into the truth.”