They endured the COVID-19 pandemic during their freshman year, had to wear masks to school or attend online, saw library books removed from shelves their junior year and had some statewide testing restrictions lifted.

They are the graduating class of 2024.

And for Lakeland Senior High School, the last four years also brought state football championships and cheerleading titles.

On Friday, more than 330 LHS students walked across the stage at the RP Funding Center to receive their diplomas, to the cheers and screams of their proud families.

Harrison School for the Arts and Lake Gibson High School also held their ceremonies on Friday.

Ceremonies for other Lakeland and Polk County Schools continue this week.

Slide show: Lakeland High School graduation

Click through to see some of their happy moments, captured by LkldNow’s Kimberly C. Moore:

  • Graduates prepare to enter the RP Funding Center Arena.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • Graduates enter the RP Funding Center Arena as the LHS band plays "Pomp and Circumstance."
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A family celebrates their graduate.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A family celebrates their graduate.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • High Honors graduates stand to be recognized.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • The letter, medals, ribbons, and cords of one high honors graduate.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • LHS Valedictorian Mei-Hsin Chi and Principal Art Martinez.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • LHS Salutatorian and Homecoming King Ben Madden with his mom, City Commissioner Stephanie Madden.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • Staff members shake hands with a graduate.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A staff member hugs a graduate.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • Some graduates put their best foot forward.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • Lakeland High School 2024 graduation.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LlkldNow
  • Lakeland High School 2024 graduation.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A graduate shakes hands with a teacher.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A graduate hugs a teacher.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A graduate gives a fist bump to a teacher.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A graduate poses.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A graduate hugs a staff member.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A graduate poses.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A future U.S. Marine shakes hands with a JR ROTC instructor.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • A graduate poses.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • PCPS Superintendent Fred Heid congratulates LHS Principal Art Martinez on his retirement.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • Graduates move their tassels from their right to left.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow
  • Confetti is launched at the conclusion of the ceremony.
    | Kimberly C. Moore, LkldNow

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Kimberly C. Moore, who grew up in Lakeland, has been a print, broadcast and multimedia journalist for more than 30 years. Before coming to LkldNow in the spring of 2022, she was a reporter for four years with The Ledger, first covering Lakeland City Hall and then Polk County schools. She is the author of “Star Crossed: The Story of Astronaut Lisa Nowak," published by University Press of Florida. Reach her at kimberly@lkldnow.com or 863-272-9250.

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