MONTEREY — Monterey High School valedictorian Marshall Lipsey took a page from the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” to help his classmates say farewell to their lives as high school students and prepare to embark on “the journey of a lifetime.”

“In the story, Frodo is hesitant to leave the safety and security of his home in the Shire, where he has grown up, for an adventurous, sometimes dangerous quest with a very important mission,” Lipsey said. “As the class of 2014, we are about to embark on our own journey, much like the journey of Frodo Baggins.”

Lipsey explained that for the past 17 or 18 years of their lives, he and his fellow graduates have been under the protective and supportive care of their families, school, community, churches and friends.

“Monterey, much like the Shire, has been our safe haven, the place where we have grown and learned and prepared for the journey ahead of us,” he said. “Growing up in the community, we have been mentored and guided not only by our own parents but our classmate’s parents, teachers, pastors, grandparents and countless others who have always had our best interests at heart.”

Lipsey said those guides have always encouraged his classmates to do their best and set goals to work toward accomplishing.

“You have been preparing us for the journey of life outside the safety of our Shire,” he said.

Lipsey said as he and his fellow graduates prepare for their new journey, they will meet new friends and mentors who will help them continue their quest.

“Like Frodo, we will be faced with many obstacles, temptations, and at time, those who wish to harm us rather than protect us,” Lipsey said. “It is at these times, I challenge my classmates to remember the lessons of life that were taught to us in the early years of our journey, the years when we were under the protection of those who have nurtured, taught and protected us.”

Lipsey said before one of the most difficult parts of his journey, Frodo was given a gift by Galadriel, Lady of  Lothlórien, who said, “Farewell, Frodo Baggins, I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star. May it be a light for you in dark places when all the other lights go out.”

“I challenge you, my fellow classmates … when in the dark places, when all other lights go out, lean on God, our light and ultimate guide for this journey we call life, and keep your eyes on rewards at the end of the journey,” Lipsey said.

Salutatorian Baler Smith took a page from Mary Schmich’s 1997 column “Wear sunscreen” to give her classmates some practical life advice.

“Ladies and gentleman of the class of 2014, wear sunscreen,” Smith said. “If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.”

Smith went on to advise her classmates to enjoy the beauty and power of their youth, not to worry about the future, do one thing that scares them, sing, floss, not waste time on jealousy, get plenty of calcium and other advice Schmich gave in her column.

Smith also reminded her classmates to be careful whose advice they take.

“Advice is a form of nostalgia,” she said. “Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parents and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

“But hey, trust me on the sunscreen.”

Monterey’s 24 seniors who graduated Saturday were the final students of the Concordia Parish School District’s class of 2014 to say farewell to high school.

Superintendent Paul Nelson said he was thrilled for the graduates and proud they racked up thousands of dollars in scholarships for college.

Nelson said he is confident the graduates will do great things and is thankful for the school staff and parents who helped them get to graduation.

“It’s a great day,” he said. “I am just thrilled these students will be moving on to the next path for their lives and the great things ahead of them.”