Eastside Memorial High School celebrated more than 130 seniors who received their high school diplomas today.

Salutatorian Lebon Hora, an immigrant from the Phillipines and the first in her family to attend an American university, thanked teachers, family and friends.

"When I left my home four years ago, I felt like I left half of myself, but your made me whole," she said to her classmates. "The world is waiting for us. Do not let fear or anything stop us. Let us make our alma mater proud of us."

It was a year of triumphs for Eastside Memorial:

• Boys basketball and baseball teams made the first round of the playoffs
• Soccer team advanced to the second round of the playoffs
• Pantherettes dance team won five awards at the Showtime Dance Competition, including the Team Championship Award

Valedictorian Jericho Batista thanked his mother and brother, and encouraged his fellow grads: "We do not fear challenges, we overcome them."

Congratulations to the Eastside Memorial Class of 2017! We’re #AISDProud of our #AISDGrads!