Some of the 552 ex-students of La Mirada High School anxiously wait in line to receive their diplomas from district officials at the school's 55th commencement ceremony Friday at Goodman Stadium. Photo (c) 2016 La Mirada Blog, Alondra Urizar

La Mirada~Once the gates to La Mirada High School's Goodman Stadium opened at 5 p.m., friends and family packed the bleachers to the brim to attend the 55th annual commencement ceremony.

The lines to enter both gates extended around the corner onto Foster Road until most were settled in after the beginning of the ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Traffic was also affected in the surrounding communities with heavier traffic in both La Mirada and Norwalk.

The graduating class of 552 seniors were introduced by the high school's graduation band before 2015-2016 class president, Nestor Guerrero, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. The valedictorian, Lawrence Koh, received the National AP Scholar award and gave his address after the national anthem sung by the La Mirada Chamber Choir.

After the jazz ensemble played "One Love" by Bob Marley, Princeton-bound salutatorian Vittorio Reynoso-Avila, gave his address.

“The best grad speech I've heard in a long time,” said head basketball coach and teacher at La Mirada Bryce Jones via his Twitter account.

The ceremony finished at approximately 8:30 p.m. where graduates walked away from the stadium and met overjoyed families and friends outside.