KINGSTON – More than a thousand people poured into the Ryan Center at the University of Rhode Island on Friday night to celebrate the 2012 graduating class of South Kingstown High School.

The night was started and ended by principal Robert McCarthy, and enlivened in the middle by musical performances, and speeches from the salutatorian and valedictorian – humor from Richard Wu, sincerity from Erin McAlice.

“Today, at this moment, we’re here to celebrate you and this moment,” McCarthy said. “Savor this twinkling of recognition and success.”

For about 15 minutes of highlights from the ceremony, see the attached video. McAlice’s entire speech is in the package, along with most of Wu’s remarks, the pledge of allegiance and the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

For a program from the event, see the attached PDF. Have your own photos or video to share? Sign into your Patch account, and then use the “add” button!

Salutatorian Richard Wu stole a bit of the show with his speech, which was a humorously about how he was bad at giving speeches. To set the stage in introducing Wu, senior and class historian Sam Agostini shared a story about how Wu once accidentally head-butted another student playing ultimate Frisbee.

“Richard Wu drew first blood that day,” Agostini said.

Wu returned the favor in his own remarks.

“I’m not as smart as Hannah Kelly, or as devilishly handsome as Sam Agostini,” he said, adding that he embraced his weirdness as a way of differentiating himself.

“Now is not the time to set aside our weirdness, it’s time to accept it,” he said.

Other highlights of the event included a performance by the South Kingstown High School band of “Sedona,” and an all-senior performance of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide.”