Expelled as a sophomore for his part in a brawl outside Renton High School, Mar’que Fluker didn’t think he’d get to graduation.

However, when Principal Damien Pattenaude saw how Fluker improved, he gave him a second chance and his senior year.

“I’m overwhelmed right now,” said Fluker at the Renton graduation ceremony. “I’m here, and it happened for a reason.”

All three of the Renton School District’s comprehensive high schools held their graduations at the ShoWare Center in Kent Tuesday. About 700 students graduated in all.

Fluker is now planning to join the U.S. Air Force in the fall and then use military benefits to study massage therapy or sports medicine in college, he said.

“I’m just proud of the students and their accomplishments,” said Pattenaude, also a Renton alumnus. “It’s kind of one of those bittersweet moments.”

During commencement and with the vigor of a sermon, he openly challenged a negative judgment the community has made on Renton High.

“Should we not be proud?” he said, listing the class’ notable scholars and sharing that the students had won about $1.6 million in scholarship money. “Only one group of students are lucky enough to graduate from THE Renton High School.”

For Pattenaude he takes the school’s reputation personally, he says.

“My big focus is our motto of pride, tradition and excellence,” he said, adding that this is his second year at Renton High.

The class of 2010 is academically strong, he said. “This is a class that enjoyed their high school.”

About 214 students graduated.

Off to West Point

Hazen High School graduate James Holland won a $400,000 scholarship to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

While some might gasp at a college costing that much, it only made up a fraction of the $3.4 million his class won in scholarships.

“We actually broke all the records for our high school in scholarships,” said graduate Mark Sippel.

The school helped Holland through the demanding application process, which required a congressional nomination and five medical exams, he said.

“Without the school, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” he said. “I feel honored, but I worked hard for it.”

The class success with scholarships is attributed to the self-drive of the individual students, said Principal John Kniseley.

“I think they’re very grounded in community,” he said. “To get scholarships, you need to be involved in the community.”

About 265 students graduated Tuesday.

At commencement, graduate Brian Palma gave an inspiring speech about what the students had overcome.

Offering quotes from his parents as advice, he gave an emotional public thanks, before leading the entire graduating class in a collective shout out to their parents.

‘So speechless’

After the Lindbergh High School commencement, students in red or blue gowns waited patiently in line for their actual diplomas.

Friends and family threw flower leis and long candy necklaces around the necks of their graduates.

“I’m so speechless now,” said graduate Stephanie Saeteurn, buried in flowers and necklaces. “I’m just really excited to start my life.”

Saeteurn plans to work before going to school again, but she’s nervous to find a job with the economy, she said. “I’ll try. Life goes on.”

Across the court a girl with a dozen balloons gives her father a long embrace. There wasn’t a graduate in the crowd without a hug.

The class of about 260 won about $986,000 in scholarship money.

Each class has some characteristic that makes them unique, for Lindbergh it was its leadership, said Principal Tres Genger.

“My class of 2010 Lindbergh has the craziest amount of spirit ever,” said Nathan Cruz, who was named homecoming king. “We’re like a family.”

Cruz plans to attend the University of Washington to study medicine.

“We finally made it, and good luck to the future,” he said.