A rowdy, supportive crowd watched dozens of students walk the stage to receive their diplomas at the Colorado's Finest High School of Choice graduation ceremony.

School staff made the May 21 event personal, speaking about each graduate’s time at Finest, their future plans and the memories they leave behind. The ceremony took place in the school's auditorium in south Englewood.

Staff also recognized the difficult road some students had to overcome to reach graduation. One student would sometimes wake up by 3 a.m. to go to work and then would come to school afterward, a staff member said.

Teacher Becky Moraja spoke about another student, Sierra Olson, who was accepted to Arapahoe Community College and received a 2022 Colorado’s Finest High School of Choice Outstanding Academic Performance Award.

“After today, she hopes to take a breath,” Moraja said, “and just figure it out.”