Students from across Kitsap County and even North Mason congregated at Olympic College in Bremerton Friday morning for the 15th annual Kitsap Human Rights Rally as they brought rays of sunshine into the Bremer Student Center on an otherwise dreary day.

“I’ve been participating for the last 15 years and this year the kids have a renewed energy that you can see in their eyes,” Bremerton High School teacher Phyllis Eagans-Molina said.

Each year the event rotates between each of the school districts involved. This year was Bremerton’s year to host the event, Eagans-Molina said, adding that each school makes a patch for the quilt, which is part of the event.

Throughout the day, students were exposed to a wide variety of cultures and human rights topics, which were designed to help them find common ground, she said.

“If they can’t find common ground, at least they can agree to disagree,” she said.

Next year’s event will be hosted by the Bainbridge Island School District.