MANCHESTER -- Although a thoroughly adult world of work or college beckoned them, hundreds of Pinkerton Academy graduates took time to enjoy themselves Monday as they received their diplomas at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

About a half-hour into the ceremony, beach balls started bouncing among the 700-plus graduates seated at the floor of the arena. The ball-playing highlighted the festive nature of the Pinkerton graduation, where every honor student, award winner and scholarship recipient was asked to stand and be recognized.

“No matter how you calculate it, it has been a long journey requiring a lot of work,” said Renee Hensiek, the 2012 valedictorian, who will enroll in Northwestern University to study biomedicine.

Located in Derry, Pinkerton is a private, independent high school that educates children from Derry, Chester and Hampstead.

“The freshmen you were no longer exist,” said Headmaster Mary A. Anderson. “You are now seniors, with many new friends, lessons learned, experience gained.”

Male students wore red gowns, while women wore white. The stage was flanked by flags of the United States and New Hampshire. The school seal was on a backdrop behind the stage, and red and white flowers lined the front edge.

“I welcome you to the future,” said Harry Burnham Jr., the president of the Pinkerton board of trustees, who handed out diplomas to the graduates.

According to the commencement program, 730 Pinkerton seniors received a degree.

Salutatorian John Heisling Jr., who will attend Yale University in the Air Force ROTC, asked his fellow graduates to high-five each other, and then high-five themselves with a hand clap.

He also noted that their parents feel extremely proud of them; a good time to hit them up for money.

Hensiek advised her fellow graduates to make the right choices in their lives. Anderson was more specific: “make good choices, be healthy, be kind, be smart on Facebook.”

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Mark Hayward may be reached at mhayward@unionleader.com.