Principal Paula Phelps and student speakers described the Issaquah High School class of 2008 as a compassionate, considerate and generous group. They were challenged in countless ways and met those challenges brilliantly, the speakers said during graduation at Safeco Field in Seattle.

“You have distinguished yourselves … in impressive ways,” Phelps said. Among a lengthy list of accomplishments, she recognized class members who were state champions in music, baseball, drill team, Special Olympics baseball, DECA, golf, lacrosse and girls soccer. Members of the class were invited to present a paper to the physics world, lobbied the state Legislature for robotics funding and invited to the White House.

An amused Phelps described the fact that a number of seniors had approached her with various ideas for senior pranks — before performing them.

“I’d say, well, I don’t think so,” she said.

Phelps said she found the manner of one senior prank particularly touching and telling. Someone placed a goldfish and a purple fish in the boys and girls bathrooms in the commons, and clearly took great pains to make certain they were in the right type of water. The fish later appeared in Phelps’ office, complete with tanks and food, as a sort of gift to help her remember the class.

In lauding the students’ compassion and demeanor, she related the story of a time when one of the class interrupted a group of students who were picking on someone else, and said, “We don’t do those kinds of things around here.”

“For all those things, I’m incredibly grateful,” Phelps said. “Well done for your many accomplishments.”

The class of 2008 is the last one in a line of 46 other classes to walk the halls of Issaquah High as they now stand, Phelps said, referring to the reconstruction of the high school that will begin as soon as school lets out.

Valedictorians Lauren Munechika and Susan Walters delivered their speech together, bantering back and forth.

“The life lessons that we learned with you and from you are the life lessons that will stick with us,” Munechika said.

Walters continued, “We came to school and studied hard, but when the bell rang, we chased each other down the hall with toothbrushes.”

The pair recalled how the classmates took turns surprising one another, learned to laugh together and grew proud of their reputation for breaking the mold and showing nerve.

“We are an insanely talented and successful bunch,” Munechika said, congratulating her classmates.

The ceremony also included performances by the Issaquah High Band and Issaquah High vocal group called “Mix it Up,” speeches by Senior Class President Jane Kim, science teacher Jeff Dineen and School Board President Jan Woldseth.

Graduate Mark Kowalczyk, 18, said after the ceremony that he values “all the memorable and unforgettable teachers,” noting that he thinks IHS has some of the best teachers in the state.

Classmate Jessica Toborg, 17, said, “I think I will always value the friends that I made and the fact that everyone is willing to help everyone else achieve their goals.”

Garnering some of the largest responses from the crowd, Chandler Balkman delivered a light, entertaining speech about the variety of challenges that faced his class — and the way that they overcame each one together.

“Despite the inconveniences we faced, we still rose to excellence,” Balkman said.

He also thanked his classmates for helping him when he needed it most.

“As most of you know, I had a ‘little’ run-in with a boat. I couldn’t have made it through that without the support of all of you guys,” said Balkman, who lost his leg after a boating accident in 2006.

He shared a quote from Emerson that his grandfather used and that now means a lot to him: “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

Balkman urged his classmates and friends to find the power and enthusiasm within themselves to succeed.