As the names of graduates were called, joyful celebration broke out next to The Cave.

Bleachers packed to overflowing, roughly 200 late-arriving parents and assorted relatives tried to hold the high ground in folding chairs or searched for a better vantage point near the stands on the Mingus Mountain side of Bright Field.

The ceremony for the 2010 Mingus Union High School graduating class was a standing room-only event.

More than 1,000 cars jammed lots and lined streets around the school May 26.

A waxing moon rose high and blue above the white lattice backdrop on the stage where the evening’s speakers sat.

Co-salutatorian Robert Lee stepped forward to voice the thoughts of many graduates.

“First off, thank you,” Lee said. “Thank you parents, teachers, administrators, friends and Sparks Notes for helping us make it through these last four years. Without you, we could not have done it.”

Bystanders milled around the tall, chain-link fence, several joking and laughing, their camera phones at the ready.

Others zigged and zagged at the fringe of the field, navigating by the view screen of their digital video recorders.

“Go out and live your life,” Co-salutatorian Jake Addis said, changing the subject. “Use that hard work and dedication that got you here today, in order to create a pleasant life for yourself, achieving the dreams and goals that you have.”

“Don’t let yourself get comfortable with where you are now; instead, keep fighting and clawing your way to the top,” Addis said.

Al and Suzanne Bartz may have done some fighting and clawing on the way to their excellent, front row seats. They sat up straight to hear their graduate’s name called.

Suzanne Bartz said the pair rode motorcycles from Seligman to take part in their granddaughter Cheyenne’s big day.

Nearby, Charlene Tasa, grandmother of MUHS graduate Brandon Tasa, said, “He’s my first grandchild to graduate, so I’m excited. It’s a great day for him, for all these kids.”