FERRIDAY, La. — It seemed many at Ferriday High School’s graduation Thursday night weren’t ready to say goodbye so soon.

Students, teachers, friends and relatives gathered on the Ferriday High School football field to see the first Ferriday graduation of the new millennium.

The ceremony began with the invocation being given by senior class President A’Ron Thomas, and he set the tone for the rest of the evening. &uot;Tonight is a night to rest and reflect on our academic achievements over the past few years,&uot; he said.

Following the invocation, Salutatorian Kryshawn Bell her own message for the 52 graduates of the Class of 2000. Bell wrote a poem to her classmates titled &uot;Seize the Moment.&uot;

&uot;Seize the moment, let it show. Seize the moment, and never let it go,&uot; she said.

Bell’s final words, addressed directly to her classmates, were: &uot;Live this moment to the fullest … the past is the past and tomorrow may never come.&uot;

After the recognition of the honor graduates, Valedictorian Travis Williams made his way up to the podium.

&uot;I’ve been with most of you seven hours a day, five days a week, nine months a year for the last 13 years, and any one of you could be here in my place, but since I’m up here, I’ll say this … I&160;love you all, I’ll miss you all, and good luck to you all,&uot; Williams said. &uot;Unless a miracle happens, this will be the last time we’ll be together, so let’s cherish this moment.&uot;

Among the scholarships and awards that were given out was a $10,000 scholarship awarded to Bell to help her as she attends Grambling State University in the fall.

Williams was awarded an $11,348 scholarship to Northwestern State University in the fall.