BROOMFIELD — Each of Boulder Preparatory High School's 16 graduates was introduced with a story or description at Friday's graduation ceremony before giving a short speech.

One was a great thinker. Another a leader and volunteer. Then there was a musician and soccer player who's one of the few to trounce director of studies Andre Adeli in chess.

At the ceremony at the Chateaux in Broomfield , the focus was all on the students.

"I want to thank everybody who told me to just keep going, keep going," said graduating senior Abraham Linares-Lopez. "You can't describe this moment."

Boulder Prep is a small charter school designed for at-risk students. Some are required to attend as part of their probation, some have dropped out of regular high schools and others are looking for an alternative to the traditional high school experience.

Several graduates earned more than the 220 credits required, including one — Jessica Pagel — who topped the list with 387 credits. Eleven also earned college credit through a partnership with Front Range Community College .

One of those is salutatorian Lyndsey Fitch, who racked up nine college credits. She said she liked to learn but didn't much like school before switching to Boulder Prep. The school's community, she said, made her "feel like I'm one of the luckiest people in the world."

The graduates thanked teachers, family and friends for their support, saying educators at Boulder Prep always pushed them to achieve.

"Thank you so much for not giving up on me when I was ready to give up on myself," said graduating senior Caylin Jensen.

Jazmine Arzate was one of two graduates who are also teen moms. She switched to Boulder Prep from Centaurus High after the death of her brother, looking for a smaller school where it would be easier to focus. An accomplished dancer, she's headed to Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Her dream is to become an elementary schoolteacher, getting her bachelor's degree in education and a master's in bilingual education.

"You taught me more than I could have ever asked for," she said before receiving her diploma.