As the 163 graduates of Ypsilanti High School, dressed head to toe in purple, marched across the stage to receive their diplomas on Tuesday night they signified the beginning of a new chapter in their own lives and a new chapter for the district.

“I’m really enjoying looking out at this sea of purple,” Superintendent Dedrick Martin said. “I’m going to miss that.”

Ypsilanti and Willow Run school districts will merge to create the Ypsilanti Community School district set to launch July 1. The class of 2013 will be the last graduating class from Ypsilanti High School; the last class to "bleed purple and gold.’

Senior choir members opened the commencement ceremony held at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center with their alma mater, ‘The Purple and Gold’. Students, teachers and administrates rose as the words "All hail to Ypsi High, your honor we’ll uphold" rang through the arena.

Student officers spoke on behalf of their class. Each called for their fellow classmates to represent Ypsilanti High School in a positive light as the last class to walk its halls.

“As I listen to the speeches of your officers, I am comforted to know the future is in good hands. No one could have said it better than you did,” Martin said.

Valedictorian Meagan Winkelseth said it has been both an honor and a challenge to be the last graduating class from Ypsilanti High.

“We can take pride in being a part of the last graduating class,” Winkelseth said. “They really did save the best for last.”

Salutatorian John Davis spoke of the journey he and his classmates have embarked on since elementary school. He read ‘Spoken Poetry’ to family and friends, urging them to remember the journey they have been on.

“We didn’t just make it, we earned it,” Davis said.

Anna Gustatson, president of the National Honor Society, congratulated her class on their success and urged them to continue on to greatness in the future.

“As a class we can make a difference and we will,” Gustatson said.

Keynote speaker and class president Jasmine Jones spoke of the bad reputation that Ypsilanti High School gets. She told fellow classmates to have pride and represent the school they came from.

“This moment is not only our graduation, but the final graduation and because of that we represent our class and all those before us,” Jones said. “I believe there are great things to come from Ypsilanti Community High, but tonight is to celebrate us.”

Christana Slater, student council co-president, recounted the last moments not only as high school students, but as the last class of Ypsilanti High.

“Together, forever, we will bleed purple and gold,” Slater said.

Chelsea Hoedl is an intern reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at choedl@mlive.com.