By CHRISTINA LABOISSONNIERE

EAST PROVIDENCE — The sun was shining bright and the band played loudly Saturday afternoon as the East Providence Class of 2009 celebrated commencement exercises at Pierce Field.

The seats were filled with proud loved ones as speaker after speaker praised the graduating class for various academic, athletic and community service achievements. 
In a tearful speech by Class President Jasmine Carvalho, the joyful and as well as difficult experiences of the Class of 2009 were shared. “I would not have chosen any other class to graduate with ... we will always be '09, so fine,” said Carvalho. Congratulating her fellow classmates on their accomplishments she stated, “I wish you all the best of luck. I know you will all succeed.”
East Providence Mayor Joseph Larisa Jr. spoke at the graduation and extended his congratulations to the Class of 2009. School Committee Chairman Anthony Carcieri requested a “thunderous round of applause” for the class. “Go through life with dignity, grace, and passion,” were the words of advice Carcieri offered the graduates.  
Mario F. Cirillo Jr., superintendent of schools, started his speech saying, “We stand here filled with immense pride.” He went on to mention specific students who have accomplished many academic, athletic, and community service feats. He praised the students, saying: “You have added to the excellence that is East Providence High School and in his closing left students with one bit of advice, “remember to dream big, your dreams can change the world.”
As her last order to the class of 2009, Principal Caroline Caswell instructed the students to turn and face the crowd and thank them, to which they all enthusiastically did.
She told the graduates, “You have brought more out of me then you will ever know.” Caswell told students: “It hurts to let you go but I must send you on your way.”
 She shared a poem she wrote for them, highlighting their mischievousness and their joy. In her final words, Caswell said, “Class of '09: you will always, always, always, hold a place in my heart.”
Valedictorian John Caruolo and Salutatorian Laura Costa’s speeches circled around the idea of packing a suitcase for the journey ahead.  Costa spoke about not taking the easy way out, emphasizing “working hard for what we want and never settling.” In her “suitcase,” she said, she would pack “perseverance and hard work.”
Caruolo started his speech saying, “As we will pack our suitcase with the comfort of home the future does not seem so frightening.”
His items to pack included a picture of mom and dad, because according to him, “we could not have made it this far without them”; along with dreams, and lastly, Townie Pride.
“We can never forget this is our home,” said Caruolo. As he closed his speech, he addressed teachers, family and parents, saying: “We have finished packing and are ready to go.”