All 77 members of Westport High School’s Class of 2016 got their moment in the spotlight Saturday morning as did one classmate who could not be there with them.

Erika Hall was a WHS sophomore when she died in April, 2014, at age 16 in a Drift Road car crash.

On the day that would have been her graduation day, Erika was remembered again and again as a friend, an inspiration and a character.

After a powerful tribute delivered by classmate Alison Shaw, Principal Cheryl Tutalo presented Erika’s diploma to her parents — the Rev. Nathan R. Hall and Eileen M. Hall. The audience responded with an emotional ovation.

Valedictorian Reaghan Tripp spoke of a friend who somehow managed to keep the distractions of life — bad hair days, paint spilled on clothes in art class, makeup mishaps, from getting in the way of the important things.

Erika knew how to put those daily “bumps” in their place, all while “exuding more confidence and radiating more positive energy” than anyone I have known, Ms. Tripp said.

She and others learned from that example, the valedictorian said. Following the Erika Hall model helped her get past her own distractions, both big — diabetes injections she has endured for most of her life, and less so — crooked teeth, nail biting and the other traumas that come with growing up.

“She was a spitfire,” Ms. Tripp said of the young artist and field hockey player known for cheering her teammates on, and Ms.Tripp said she will use those memories to push herself way beyond her comfort zone in the years to come. — so far that I “couldn’t crawl back if I wanted to.”

Salutatorian Casandra Abgrab said she, too, learned much from Erika Hall, not the least of it the importance of worrying less about “the things that were out of my control.”

Erika showed us all “how to live a little,” and to always look ahead and follow the high road.

Ms. Abgrab summed up those memories with a quotation … “Some people come into our lives and go quickly. Some stay awhile and leave footprints on our hearts — and we are never the same.”

The Class of 2016 was a small class but a close-knit one and Class President Audra Laubi said she leaves with the greatest of affection for her classmates.

“I love you guys,” Ms. Laubi said In an upbeat address greeted by laughter and applause. After all we’ve been through, the time has arrived “to spread our wings and fly.” It’s time to get out and explore new things.

WHS Principal Cheryl Tutalo said she too began her school career with uncertainty.

She told of heading off to kindergarten, youngest in her class, with such trepidation that her big sister had to hold her hand and ease her fears. What might that 4-year-old have thought had she known that “you’d … be in a school setting for the rest of your life” — this is already Ms. Tutalo’s 10th WHS graduation as principal.

Take on life’s challenges, but don’t forget to savor the present, “Ms. Tutalo urged. As Kermit the Frog once observed, “You need to enjoy being a tadpole because once your tail drops off, you will need to learn how to hop …” and you’ll be hopping for a very long time thereafter.

There will be trials and setbacks, but bounce back from these and keep trying, she told the graduates.

“I want you to be safe, I want you to be successful, but most of all I want you to be happy,” the principal said.

Superintendent of Schools Ann Marie Dargon asked graduates to always help one another and those around them.

“Contribute to the betterment of others,” she said, and urged that students never stop learning.

Trent Rodrigues, vice president of the Class of 2016, led the Pledge of Allegiance at the outset of the graduation.

Music was provided by what is now the Westport Junior-Senior High School Band and Chorus (so-called since the middle school merger). In addition to the Star Spangled Banner, offerings included the song “Make Them Hear You” from the musical “Ragtime.”