POLAND — Knight Nation sent forth its sixteenth group of graduating emissaries on Sunday with class valedictorian Jessamyn Quint calling out to the gathered, “What time is it?!”

Three times she called.

And three times, each louder than the previous, the answer came:

“Knight Time!” “Knight Time!!” “Knight Time!!!”

Knight Nation, as Quint described it, was where “We developed our character … where we could try new things and push ourselves to think differently about who we were.”

Quint praised the Class of 2015 for being hard-working and dedicated.

“Being a member of Knight Nation has taught us that we are valuable, we are worth listening to, we are worthy of your trust … We can now go out into the world risking curiosity, wondering, delighting and being confident in ourselves,” Quint said.

The Poland Regional High School gymnasium was packed to the banners with well-wishers and those offering praise and sage advice.

Principal Cari Medd gave the simplest speech of all, saying in praise little more than this: “You are an endless capacity for love, compassion and forgiveness.”

Regional School Unit 16 Superintendent Tina Meserve was equally as brief. “Take courage to grow up and be who you really are.”

Class salutatorian Emily Gibson noted that high school was so much more than the education students receive.

“It’s about the people and events that guide us, inspire us, change us and, most of all, the lessons they teach us,” Gibson said.

“We made it here. And we will make it in life. When the rain came pouring down — especially on that rafting trip — and we felt like giving up instead, we stood up, stood together and stood strong against the wind,” Gibson said.

The Senior Singers performed the National Anthem and gave a rendition of “You’ll Always Be a Part of Me.”

Gabrielle Smith and Taylor Summers served as faculty marshals, while Ethan Joncas and Hannah Kenison were class marshals.

Nicholas Hemond was master of ceremonies.

Welcoming addresses were given by Kyle Herrick, senior class president, and Emily Whittemore, Student Representative Body president.

U.S. Sen. Angus King delivered the keynote address. Stepping away from the podium to speak directly to the graduates, King counted down the 10 things he wished someone had told him when when he was starting out.

From: “No. 1, take more risks, reach a little further than you think you can.”

To: “And, finally, No. 10, value your friends and family because in the end, that’s all you have. Godspeed to the Poland Class of 2015.”

119 — Graduates in the Class of 2015

96 — Going to college

13 — Going into the workforce

6 — Joining the military

Class song: “I Don’t Wanna Be” by Gavin DeGraw

Class quote: “Take pride in how far you have come, have faith in how far you can go” by Chris Larson.

How Class of 2015 will be remembered: “For their kindness to each other and school spirit,” Principal Cari Medd said. “They coined the phrase ‘It’s Knight Time’ during our championship basketball season and the whole school and community rallied around it. We will miss these kids!”