Under sunny skies, light breezes and rising temperatures, the sixth annual commencement exercises for the Dominion High School Class of 2010 took place in the school’s football stadium June 19.

A total of 270 Titans received diplomas.

Dominion High School Principal John Brewer welcomed the graduates.

“Over the past four years, the young men and women seated before you have grown to exemplify the fulfillment of our mission to promote success for each and every Titan, including the development of leadership, service, respect, character and excellence,” he said. “As we reflect on your four years of high school, I can attest to the fact that you, Class of 2010, have finished your journey through high school better than any group we have previously seen.”

Brewer cited the following statistics to back this assertion:

The class earned more than $2 million in scholarships.

It is the first class in Dominion’s history to bring 270 eligible candidates to exam week and to have 100 percent meet all academic requirements necessary for graduation.

Sara Beth Dufour was the valedictorian for the Class of 2010. Dufour concluded her career with the highest GPA in the history of Dominion High School, earning a 4.61.

“I am going to talk about the world,” she said. “It is only groups of people who can make a difference. A group can only be created out of individuals, so if each individual of us tries, we will create a group, and we will make a difference.”

The main speaker was Erin Norton, a Dominion guidance counselor.

“I’ll give you three pearls of wisdom you can draw upon when you need to make a decision,” Norton said.

She then outlined the three:

Make good choices – “Do your best to choose the higher road, be true to yourselves and think of others.”

Perseverance – “As you have discovered, life presents us with many challenges. Ultimately, we’re defined by how we react to these challenges.”

Character – “Character serves as a guide to good decision-making. It gives us the energy to persevere through adversity.”