Somerville High's class of 2011 graduated Monday night at Dilboy Stadium under golden light and before a crowd of family and friends. 

Mayor Joseph Curtatone commended the students for their academic, artistic and athletic achievements. 

"You, the class of 2011, represent everything that is special about our community," he said. 

Headmaster Tony Ciccariello said teachers had often characterized the class as "a great group, supportive of one another and having great school spirit." 

Toward the end of his speech, Ciccariello asked seniors to stand and face their families and friends in the bleachers and thank them for their encouragement over the past four years. 

In her valedictory address, Jessica Menjivar emphasized her class's camaraderie, diversity and steadfastness. 

"From sports games to proms, we enjoyed our time together, and our experiences as a class defined our years at Somerville High." she said. "We formed strong friendships, and together we have learned to respect each other and cherish our differences. It is our time to shine and show those who didn't believe in us that we did it...Our accomplishments have not been served to us on a silver platter, but success tastes so much better when we fight for it and overcome obstacles to get to the top...We all have promising opportunities ahead of us, but it is up to us to take advantage of what life has to offer."