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Graduates were assigned the task of lining up in alphabetical order prior to the ceremony beginning.
DPHS staff assisted students in fixing ties, zipping up gowns and pinning back hair before the ceremony.
A staff member helps a student situate his tie.
Seniors had multiple photo opportunities as they lined up backstage before the ceremony.
Members of the class of 2017 show their excitement as they prepare to graduate.
Seniors poured into the arena in two single-file lines.
A graduate fixes his tassel as he waits for his classmates to file into the arena.
The robed seniors turned the floor of the Amway Center into a sea of blue.
Graduates waited patiently in line to be directed to their seats.
Some graduates couldn’t help but burst into huge smiles when they saw their family members in the arena.
Graduates clapped as “Pomp and Circumstance” ended and the ceremony began.
The Dr. Phillips High AFJROTC presented the colors at the beginning of the ceremony.
DPHS Principal Dr. Suzanne Knight introduced the honored guests on stage and recognized the senior class.
Salutatorian Juliana DiMauro was the first speaker to take the stage.
Philip Khoury was the class of 2017’s only male valedictorian.
Catherine Amein thanked her classmates for being incredible people.
Amy Tsai enlisted the help of friend Kaitlin Swiantek to rap her valedictory speech.
Sana Mohammed took the stage as one of the 11 valedictory speakers.
Amelia Martin was the last of the 11 valedictorians to speak.
ORLANDO It was a big day for Dr. Phillips High’s class of 2017, as 768 seniors — about 94% of the entire senior class — filed into the Amway Center ready to graduate Tuesday, May 30. Special guests included Congresswoman Val Demings, Orange County Public Schools Chief of High School Dr. Harold Border and OCPS Superintendent Barbara Jenkins. Additionally, students received words of wisdom from 12 classmates — one salutatorian and 11 valedictorians.
Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].