BAILEY, Colo. -- Hundreds gathered on the football field at Platte Canyon High School for a graduation ceremony Saturday morning.

Some 104 students walked across the stage to accept their diplomas.

The class of 2007 faced a year of extreme highs and lows following last year's hostage incident when a gunman took the life of one of their fellow students.

"I have never been so proud of a group of young adults in my life," said Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener, who was the keynote speaker. "We started this year tragically. There is not another way to put it. We could have failed. We could have fallen apart as a school, as a community....but we didn't."

Graduation speakers focused on the accomplishments of all the students, but also took time to reflect on the tragedy.

On Sept. 27, 2006, Duane Morrison shot and killed Emily Keyes inside Platte Canyon High School after taking seven girls hostage.

"How could this event not have affected and changed our memories of our senior year," said Cherese Smith, 2007 Class President. "But I also know from this we grew stronger, closer and braver in one of the most important years of our lives. We have learned that random acts of kindness make a huge difference in the world and in people's lives. And we will continue to make these kind acts wherever we may go in life."