Emotions swelled through the top two students at Keith High School’s graduation ceremony on Wednesday.

Valedictorian Justin Walker and Salutatorian Ja’Lexis Lumpkin each delivered touching speeches in their farewell to the Class of 2019.

Walker, who will attend Alabama A&M University in the fall, expressed gratitude to the Keith High family. He will major in Communications.

“I’d like to thank my teachers and friends,” Walker said. “Everything will be okay in the long run. I’ll always remember playing in the band.”

Lumpkin, who will also attend Alabama A&M, honored her late father, Darrie Lumpkin, who died in 2010.

“My father impacted my life even though he was paralyzed,” Lumpkin said. “He was my biggest supporter. I’m a daddy’s girl.”