The conversation was meant to focus on academics, accomplishment and success, but for many at Ohmstede Field Friday night, the topic du jour was meteorological.

“I’m trying to keep things brief because my goal is to finish before it rains,” said Liberty High School Principal Patrick Walsh.

LUHSD Superintendent Jerry Glenn was on the same wavelength. “I’m going to speak quickly so we can beat the rain,” added Glenn. “But I will say that there is nothing wrong with public education, and to Sacramento I say: stabilize the economics and get the heck out of the way … As CEO of this organization, we are very proud of our product.”

Despite the threatening clouds, Liberty’s class of 2011 got its ceremony, making it the school’s 109th grad group to carry diplomas off the stage. Amid the color and chaos of balloons and streamers, the graduates’ parents, family and friends celebrated with plenty of cheers, whistles and obligatory horns.

In a nod to the entire student body, graduates who had participated in sports, drama or multi-media classes – to name a few – were asked by Walsh to stand up and take a bow. And it wasn’t just the immediate grads who were honored. Alumni sitting in the audience were acknowledged as part of Liberty’s illustrious history.

“We’re here to celebrate the class of 2011,” said Walsh. “We’re here to honor these young men and women as they begin their journeys into adulthood …They have learned not only to survive (during their four years) but to succeed.”

Student speaker Karen Juarez spoke of the successes of the Class of 2011 and the bonds of friendship. “We begin our new journey not as strangers but as friends,” she said. “May we always remember our time at Liberty … I have no doubt that everyone of you will go on to be successful and productive adults. Congratulations.”

Valedictorian Cathy Li (4.21 GPA) and Salutatorian Alix Blevins (4.19 GPA) delivered commencement speeches to their fellow students, wishing them success and happiness in the future.

“In the end, only three words matter,” said Blevins to her fellow graduates. “You made it.”

Congratulations to the Liberty High School Class of 2011: Deion Eric Abenoja, Emily Alicen Agudo, Saul Israel Aguilar, Paul Malik Alarab, Michael Stephen Alegria, Giavonna Assanti Alexander, Corrine Alexandra Allan, Destiny Fontain Allan, Oscar Ramiro Alvarez, Kayla Ambrose, Mariah Jacqueline Amerine, Alyssa Mariah Anderson, Tanner Jason Andrade, Stacy Arcos, Jose Manuel Arebalo, Alina Andrea Argueta, Jesus Arroyo, Jr., Wesley Keith Aslin, Zachary Michael Auer, Hayley Alanna Axel, Subhan Sayed Azamey, Kari Elisabeth Backman, Tyler Bryce Baker, Jesse R. Baldazo, Victoria Marie Balistreri, Cortnee D. Ballif, Teresa Paola Banales, Antonio Barajas, Ana Maria Barraza, Edgar German Barraza, Maria Ancelma Barraza, Samuel Barry, Christina Oyut Batbold-Summers, Gino Michael Richard Belleci, Christopher William Bender, Andrew Christopher Bigley, Frank Joseph Blach, Jr., Tyler Thomas Blank, Alix Sandra Blevins, Amanda Paige Blum, Anthony G. Boler, Jordan Ashley Bonadona, Elaine Botello, Trevor Thomas Bouslog, Stuart James Boyer, Moises Alberto Brakmo-Vizcaino, Cameron Paul Bretz, Joseph Brinley, Chante’ Nicole Brown, Schyler Jay Bryan, Jillian Leigh Bunker, Jillian Carmel Butler, Maria del Carmen Caballero, Monica Cabrera, Jasmine Casandra Cacho, Bryan Calderón, Kevin Calderón, Rachael Marie Campbell, Jessica Christina Caraballo, Paige Caylyn Carabello, Guillermo L. Carranza, Katrina Danielle Carrasco, Teylor R. Carrasco, Tania Castel-Garibay, Matthew Michael Castle, Kasey Ann Castonguay, Chelci Fern Castro, Sara Castro Mata, Joseph Wayne Cecchini, Estevan Javier Ceja, Martin Alonso Cerda, Ramon Emmanuel Chapa, Elyda Cassandra Chavez, Jordan A. Cheeves Adams, Kathleen Cheng, Victoria Erlinda Cheves, Matti Taylor Christiansen, Dominique Jean Cianfichi, Danielle Monique Ciccolo, Thomas Robert Ciprian, Joseph Michelle Clark, John Alan Clarke, Alexis Brittney Claypool, Nicholas Gregory Clemente, Brandon Clinton, Kathryn Clontz, John Wesley Coble, Leo Jakob Colbert, Alyssa Brianna Cooper, Crystian Cosajay, Cinthia Fernanda Cruz, Elizabeth Cruz, R. Carolina Cruz, Terry Louis Cruz, Mariah Christina Cuellar, Fallon Elizabeth Cummings, Kayla Jordan Dagle, Christina Marie-Morgan Davis, Kayla Brianna Davis, Niya Alisa Davis, Anthony Dejesus, Devon Giovanna Delfino, Elidee Fernanda Delgadillo, Stephanie Nicole Delgado, Brandon William Dell, Nicholas J. DePiazza, Dene Nicole DeWitt, Matthew Alexander Dickey, Austin Richard Dietrich, Tracy Ann Dillon, Tayler Anne Drafton, Brenda Beatriz Duarte, Bejamin George Duran, Dylan Joseph Dutra, Travis Dyer, Emily Marie Edson, Brooke Jillian Edwards, Jasmine Michele Edwards, Mona Youssef Eldam, Blake Alexander Enderlin, Sandra Erostico, Zahira Elizabeth Estrada, Dalton Michael Everhart, Kevin John Fallon, Alexandra Paige Fellman, Morgan Caitlin Ferrando, Dominick Dayton Finetti, Joshua Ernest Fio, Nathaniel Thomas Firpo, Kirk Stephen Fisher, Sheila May Fisher, Jennifer Kay Flamand, Michael Martin Fraga, John Lee Francisco, Abby Rae Frenes, Kylie Melissa Fueglein, Taylor Gregory Fulton, Blanca Edith Gabriel, Jake Nikolaus Gabris, Kyle Edward Gaffett, Dalton Dillon Garber, Alexis Marie Garcia, Francisco Garcia, Alvaro Garcia, Jr., Andrew Michael Gardner, Brent Ryan Gaya, Cheyanne Elizabeth Gehrke, William Anthony George III, Monte Oniel George IV, Ronald Thayer Gibbs, Nicholas Aaron Gillespie, Brianna Gist, Ashley Nicole Golding, Eduardo Gomez, Jose Luis Gomez, Jeremie Jimmie Gonzalez-Avila, Maria Fernanda Gonzalez-Silvas, Linzy Lamont Gordon, Jr. , Sarah Ann Marie Graney, Mitchell Adam Gravatt, Michael W. Gray, Ellyn Cheré Green, Justine Nicole Green, Michael Jay Griffin, Taylor Gross, Alicia Noelle Grove, Dustin Bryce Guddal, Andrea Guevara, Santos Isaac Gutierrez Borrayo, Elias Guzman, Omar Onofre Guzman, Courtney Leigh Haavisto, Katherine Marie Halloran, Jonathan Maxwell Hamot, Joseph Anthony Hansen, Angela Sheree Harriss, Starkisha Haskell, Kyle Marcus Hazen, Haley Ann Hemenes, Haley Corrin Herbert, Maya Marice Herger, Carlos Angelo Hernandez, Maria Guadalupe Hernandez, Perla Rubi Hernandez, Brenda Hernandez Zaragoza, Haley Elizabeth Hickman, Matthew Dale Hinojosa, Serena Michelle Hirschman, Kelsey Hoggan, Kaitlyn Michelle Holm, Lindsey Elizabeth Hull, Corey Christopher Hummel, Deon C. Hurtado, Vanessa Hurtado, Vanessa Ashley Huynh, Isaiah Ray Ichihara, Nancy Izazaga, Steve Jauregui, Casey Rachelle Jenkins, Karen Juarez, Lopaka Kaweloleialoh Kahapea-Chow, Jenneh N. Kamara, Leah Elizabeth Kappler, Sarena Anita Keller, Katherine Alva Kelly, George Douglas Allen Kengeter, Kayla Lorraine Kiley, Nadia Amani Kimbell, Austin D. Kimbrell, Denzel Thomas King, Jacob Joseph Kiser, Seiwon Ko, Maria Sophia Kolomvotos, Meagan Lydia Konrath, Emily Rose Krentz, Paul Ransom Krey, Cody Ray Krimm, Jordan Frank Kuryla, Ashley Suzanne LaFleur, Rachel Lee Lagasca, Chantal Alexandrea Lasher, Morgan Tate LeForce, Robert Benjamin Lemings, Janet Leon, Cody Alan Lewis, Cathy Ca Jan Li, Tyler Anthony Lightfoot, Jennie Rose Lin, Nicole Krista Long, Connor Matthew Lopez, Hazel Evelia Lopez, Karissa Marie Lopez, Thomas Allen Lopez, Cristian Rodolfo Loza, Ashley Michelle Lucas, Brandon Michael Luci, Sara Cherie Perry Luci, Juliano Joseph Lujan, Kevin Wayne Luper, Nichole Alexandria Luther, Juan Antonio Macias, Allison Ruth Mackenzie, Yissel Madrigal, Abigail Magaña, Hailey Taylor Magoon, Stacey Nicole Marie Majewski, Eduardo Malagon, Anjelica Regine Macaraeg Malazo, Patrick Joseph Maloney, Maria Delores Manzo-Hotchkiss, Angelique Sabrina Martinez, Gabriela Martinez, Sonia Victoriana Martinez, Tatyana Alexa Martinez, Yesenia Martinez Erostico, Anne Lorraine Maslen, Amanda Katelyn Mathews, Peter Nicholas Mattea, Jacob Patrick McAuley, Andrea Ashley McCary, James Douglas McChesney, Mercedes Marie McCoy, Shannon Ashley McGarry, Dylan Alex McKannay, Matthew Christopher Medel, Francisco Jose Medina, Chandler Nicole Meyer, Serena Ella Virginia Meza, Monique Mhay, Mariah Miller, Mason Robert Miller, Scott Ronald Milne, Megan L. Mitchell, Travon Mobley, Alexis Haile-Marie Modlin, Alexandra Marie Moffatt, Jennifer Molina, Justin Joseph Monte, Zane Douglas Moon, Vanessa Gabriela Mora, Evan John Lee Morgan, Carol Dianne Mujica, Kelsey Lynn Murnin, Jessica Phuong-Nguyen Murphy, Lacie Leigh Murtaugh, Vincent John Najera, Claudio Navarro, Juanita Alexandra Neal, Andrea Anhthy Nguyen, Quoc Van Nguyen, Julia Blanca Justine Nino, Alexis Suzanne Nolan, Joshua Paul Noriega, Kristina Jean Nugent, Alisha Mae Nunes, Jordon William Oliver, Erika Onofre, Cindy Rodriguez Ordaz, Lexandra Glynis Ordaz, Veronica Audrey Ortiz, Abibat Suleiman Oshiobughie, Blake Stephen Paris, Devyn Lee Parsons, Mariah Elena Paz, Dominic Michael Pedrelli, Vanessa Nicole Peila, Jordan Herrick Peralta, Jessica Pereira, Alejandro Perez, Hector Elliott Perez, Julio Cesar Pérez, Cynthia Daisy Perez Morales, Charlene Sofia Perez-Lopez, Danika Malia Perio, Dillion Austin Gerald Pettit, Mason Albert Phillips, Alexandra Mary Pierce, Kevin Walter Campugan Pike, Hayden Emory Salas Pirtle, Trever Gerald Plake, Ronald Preston, Kelsie Renee Provan, Nicholas Dybdal Pruett, Jamari Benton Purcell, Landy Dante Quaill, Jr., Briana Nicole Rael, Esteban Martin Ramirez, Lauren Ramirez, Eldon David Raudebaugh, Hector Regalado, Kristy Rae Reno, Robyn Nicole Renslow, Anthony Michael Reyes, Daniela Reyes, Errice Eugene Richardson, Jr., Michael Luke Riley, Tamara Noelle Rister, Alexander Grant Ritchie, Daniel Wayne Robbert, Ileigha Chelsea-Rayne Roberts, Eric Javier Rodriguez, Jessica Mariah Rodriguez, Monica Diane Rodriguez, Jase Michael Roessler, Mayra Romero, DeShion Nikkolas-Erik Roseby, Eric Nicholas Ruff, Kathrine Denise Russo, Caleb Charles Salas, Priscilla Yamilet Salas, Ryan Stephen Auilar San Andres, Fernando David Sanabria, Alejandro Edgaro Ponco Sanchez, Samantha Walker Sanchez, Silvana R. Santa Cruz, Erik Eduardo Saro, Nicole Janet Scheib, Tanya Rochelle Schmidt, Stephen Wesley Schnieder, Alexander Joseph Schwitters, Lucas James Scocca, Cody Michael Scrivano, Ashley Corinne Seagraves, Jason Robert Semmel, Nicholas James Serrano, Luis A. Sevilla, Sierra Dawn Sherlock, Kelsey Jo Sherman, Abraham Silva Garcia, Austin Tawn Simons, Samantha Chapman Simpkins, Nehya Kriti Singh, Matthew James Sisneros, Melanie Elaine Smith, Bryan Alexander Sneddon, Austin Lee Snowden, Alex K. Soderberg, Cesily Ann Souza, Ryan Jerry Spero, Quinn Herbert Steely, Danielle Janae Still, Colton Davis Stone, Joshua Straiten, Nathan Alan Streator, Jillian Lavieve Sudweeks, Kastyn Naomi Sugimoto, Robin Nicole Swanson, Marco Antonio Talavera, Alexander Quentin Talbot, Brittney Josephine Talmadge, Sierra Nicole Taylor, Emily Marie Temple, Laken Miyoko Tenwolde, Shane Brinden Theilen, Justin Anthony Thomas, Cole Austin Tom, Isela Jazmin Torres, Eric Lee Trout II, Alexander Turkzadeh, Andrea Vaca-Rodriguez, Guadalupe Valdez, Elizabeth Valles, Arick Andrew Van Den Oudenaller, Alaina Nicole Van der Paardt, Ollin Tonatiuh Vargas, Shawn Roberto Vasquez, Jr., Kierra Antionette Veal, Rachel Marie Vela, Christopher I. Velazquez, Estela Karina Olveda Venegas, Cindy Guadalupe Viveros, Sara Rose Weatherby, Tony Curtis Webb, Jr., Kelvaughn Dímarco Wells, Shawn Anthony Whalen, Cassaundra Lucille Winn, Gabrielle June Worley, Andrew Todd Wylie, Mikayla N. Wyman, Jessica Lynn Zahn, Amanda Jane Zanette, Julia Anne Zanette and Kyle Steven Zimmerman.