Justeen Perez was at Ripon High for just a short while.

One semester, to be exact.

She mentioned that at Friday's Commencement Ceremony at Stouffer Field.

"Coming here was a new start for us," said Perez, who moved from a Florida coastal town to Ripon with her family earlier this year.

She was quickly welcomed to RHS thanks to classmates such as Vanessa Medrano, who greeted Perez with a big hug as members of the Class of 2018 geared up for their big occasion in the gymnasium.

Wet weather posed a constant threat throughout the day. But Principal Keith Rangel said that only a lightning storm would bring things to a screeching halt.

Perez is planning to take a year off. She's hoping to go to cosmetology school to pursue a career in theater makeup.

Medrano is going to Arizona State in the coming months to study Business / Sports and Media. "I've been around sports all of my life," she said.

Medrano took part in swimming, volleyball and softball for the Indians.

As for graduation, some 211 seniors received their diplomas on this day.

Classmates Justin Bright, Nathaniel Rowe, Hailey Meece and Andres Merlos, who was also valedictorian, kicked off the special event by performing the National Anthem.

From there, senior class President Chloe Winter welcomed those in attendance.

Included were Ripon Unified school board members Chad Huskey, Caroline Hutto, Kit Oase, Christina Orlando, and Ernie Tyhurst. They also handled the awarding of the diplomas.

Merlos and salutatorian Amanda Wesley were among the student speakers.

In addition, classmates Savannah Clark, Jessica Stanley and Isaiah Thompson played "Gone, Gone, Gone" by Phillip Phillips and "We are All in this Together" from High School Musical.