DAPHNE, Ala. — As the sun began to set on the bay to bring a close to Sunday, the high school careers of Bayside Academy’s senior class also drew to a close. Bayside’s class of 2011 held commencement ceremonies on campus at The Bluff overlooking Mobile Bay.

Headmaster Tom Johnson gave the introduction and benediction and the valedictorian, John Clark, 18, and the salutatorian, Molly Olmstead, 17, gave speeches.

The 51 students were accepted to 58 schools across 22 states, as well as schools in the District of Columbia and Scotland. Forty students in the class received $3.4 million in scholarships, which does not include grants or financial aid awards.

The students comprise 79 percent of the class, which is the highest percentage of students with scholarships in 15 years, Taylor Strunk, director of communications said.

The average scholarship funds awarded to students equaled $85,000 each.