As 491 seniors graduated from Saratoga Springs High School Thursday, Valedictorian Kenneth Hammond reminded his classmates that while they are done with high school, they have a lot of work to do.

With the obstacles facing the world today, it is up to their generation to make changes to overcome these obstacles.

“People have always overcome the troubles of the world. This is not the first time people have gotten together to overcome seemingly hopeless situations,” Hammond said. “Today we have a full plate, but positive enthusiasm sticks better than pessimistic viewpoints. We are ready to change things and control problems. We only fail if we choose to.”

The Class of 2008 has already made their mark in more than one way. This year they started the first ever Senior Give Back Day, when on May 22, more than 200 seniors donated their time to 30 area organizations. It is the hope of the senior class and Principal Frank Crowley that this event becomes a tradition for years to come, and a legacy to leave behind, Crowley said.

Students from Project Lead the Way, a pre-engineering group in the high school, studied and tested garden conditions with engineers and scientists to see what plants grow best in different conditions. Their hard work throughout the year paid off. Just after they received their diplomas, the PLTW students headed straight to Boston to present their project to engineers and professors at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“The reputation of the district is exemplified by the graduates,” Board of Education President Frank Palumbo said. “This class has gone where no class has gone before.”

More than 90 awards were given to members of the senior class, including the most prestigious award students can receive, the Yaddo Medal. Recipients of the Yaddo Medals for the class of 2008 were Madison Zanetti, president of the student council and Casey Slone, president of the class of 2008. The Yaddo awards are a tradition that began in 1912 under the advisement of Katrina Trask Peabody and is awarded to a male and female student who are outstanding in the areas of scholarship, citizenship and character. Those who receive the Yaddo Medal are voted by their classmates.

In his address, Crowley reminded students and the audience to recognize the parents.

“They also earned this diploma. Their support, patience and guidance helped you get here. They are an integral part if this celebration,” he said.

Salutatorian Jeffrey Pawlick also told his classmates to thank their parents, but reminded them

that many, many people have made an impact on who they are today including teachers and friends. He mentioned the importance of being a good friend and caring about and helping others.

“As we head into the future, we should focus on serving, not being served,” he said. “We celebrate our hard work and accomplishments, but we also have to recognize the impact that other people have had.”