Lansing seniors 'cap' off high school on graduation day

[Note: Scroll below to find photo galleries of Everett, Eastern and Sexton commencement ceremonies]

LANSING – Erika Wentworth worked hard to be just like her older sister Helena, who had been valedictorian of Everett High School's class of 2011.

She achieved her goal, leading the class of 2015 as the Vikings' top valedictorian.

The three Lansing high schools graduated 560 students Saturday at Don Johnson Fieldhouse. Everett had the largest class at 280. Eastern presented 190 seniors with their diplomas, while Sexton conferred diplomas on 90 graduates.

Wentworth, one of 11 valedictorians and three salutatorians, will study illustration at Parsons The New School for Design in New York.

"I was so afraid the first day of freshman year that I wouldn't make any friends," Wentworth said after the ceremony.

"Everyone was so welcoming. I think that's the really nice thing about Everett — there's just this overwhelming sense of community and togetherness."

Co-valedictorian Abigail Johnson is off to Michigan State University this fall. Her parents, Claudia and Daniel, said Lansing schools have prepared their daughter well for the next phase of her life.

"I just feel she's had some extremely wonderful teachers who recognized she could be in some honors classes," Claudia Johnson said.

"The wonderful kids she's been with, they all came up from kindergarten together all the way through," Daniel Johnson added.

The ceremony itself hit all the highlights, from the traditional playing of "Pomp and Circumstance" as the graduates marched in to speeches encouraging the class to make their mark on the world.

Bouquets of balloons and flowers were everywhere. Family members waved excitedly and cheered as the red-robed class entered the fieldhouse.

Brandy Johnson and Ryan Marsh had pretty flowers waiting for their daughter, co-valedictorian Marissa Marsh.

"We are so excited for this day," Ryan Marsh said.

"It's just emotional," Johnson added.

In a comical bit, Lansing board president Peter Spadafore translated Superintendent Yvonne Camaal Canul's "old school" speech into "younger language."

"Pat yourselves on the back and thank yourselves," Spadafore told the class. "You've done a lot of hard work."