SOUTH PORTLAND – Quoting Yoda, the wise Jedi master from the Star Wars film franchise, honor essayist Harel Biggie told his fellow South Portland High School graduates Sunday “to do or do not, there is no try.”

Nearly 200 students received their diplomas during commencement exercises held at the school’s football stadium under bright blue, sunny skies Sunday afternoon.

The ceremony included a standing ovation for the graduates and the awarding of a special diploma to John P. Rogers, who did not graduate with his own class more than 30 years ago, but came back to school determined to earn his diploma this time around.

“We have not just tried, we have done our best,” to be here today, Biggie added. “To achieve happiness and prosperity you must do. That’s the pathway to an ideal future.”

Using another Yoda quote, Biggie told his classmates to also “mind what you’ve learned, save you it can.”

In opening graduation on Sunday, Class President Danielle Proctor said it seemed like it was just a few weeks ago that the graduates had entered high school as freshmen.

“Our hopes and dreams have changed in the last four years, and we’ve come a long way since then,” she said. “We’ve all worked hard to make it to this day and we somehow managed to do everything and more.”

Proctor added that the “hard work and dedication” of the graduates “has finally paid off. It’s time to go out in the world and show what we have to offer.”

Honor essayist Thomas Keddy told his fellow graduates that “a wise man once said that character is what happens when no one is looking.”

“Up until now everything we’ve done has been graded or weighted, now you have the chance to show what you’re made of. No matter what you do or where you go, make sure you can be proud of your own character,” he said.

Salutatorian Emma Jordan said, “Your life is a book all your own and you can be the author of your own story. Today we turn a new page – a blank one.”

Jordan said she was “proud to have spent the last chapter here with you” and told her classmates to have the courage to “write anything and everything” into their own story.

Valedictorian Emma Kane was the last speaker of the day and said she hoped that her fellow graduates would do all they could to make the world more beautiful, just like her hero Alice Rumphius, who planted lupines all across coastal Maine.

When Rumphius was young her grandfather told her she must do what she could to make the world more beautiful and her response was to plant flowers, according to Kane.

Kane said, “I hope you try to make the world a little more beautiful. We’re all good at something and when we do it we make the world more beautiful each in our own way. When I watch my talented classmates, it’s hard not to be inspired.”

She added, “We come from a generation known for its narcissism and bad manners. We need to turn that around and be the opposite. Stop worrying about your follow-to-follower ratio on Twitter. The only thing that matters is caring about others and contributing positivity.”

In presenting Rogers with his special diploma, South Portland High School Principal Ryan Caron said that while Rogers was voted as having the most school spirit when he was in high school 30 years ago, he did not experience academic success.

Rogers failed to graduate from high school and although he went on to be successful in his career and in family, Caron said he always felt something was missing, which is why he came back seeking his diploma.

Caron said Rogers went above and beyond what is required by the school department’s adult education program and insisted on completing all the same requirements as the graduates.

Rogers, who was doing his best to hold back tears, received a standing ovation and blew kisses to the audience in his excitement.

Nearly 200 students graduated from South Portland High School Sunday. The ceremony was held at the school’s football stadium. South Portland High School Principal Ryan Caron presented a special diploma to John P. Rogers Sunday. Rogers did not graduate with his own class more than 30 years ago, but came back to school determined to meet all current graduation requirements.South Portland High School Valedictorian Emma Kane told her fellow graduates that the most important thing they could do in the future was to be a good person who cares about others, as well as the environment.Salutatorian Emma Jordan urged her fellow graduates to write their own stories during South Portland High School’s graduation ceremony Sunday.Honor Essayist Thomas Leddy told his fellow South Portland High School graduates they now have the chance to show the world what they’re made of during Sunday’s graduation.Honor Essayist Harel Biggie peppered his speech at the South Portland High School graduation Sunday with sayings by Yoda.