Whether inside in a gymnasium or outside on a football field, from a private or public school, all graduates will march across and receive the same coveted item: a diploma.

Morgan Academy students will be the first are high school students to graduate this year.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” said Morgan student Lauren Swindle. “I’m very ready for an atmosphere change, I’m ready for some new friends, but I love my old friends and I love everybody at Morgan. I’ve been here my entire life. It’s going to be sad to leave but good at the same time.”

Swindle will work at Granny B’s at the Graystone this summer before heading to Auburn University to major in elementary education with a concentration in special education.

“I’ll miss seeing my friends every day,” said Morgan student Katie DeWitt.

She may take some classes at Wallace this summer before enrolling as a full-time student in the nursing program this fall.

“I’ll miss the people in my class and some of my friends that I probably won’t see until next summer,” said Morgan student Parker DeWitt.

He will study engineering at Auburn University.

The reality of the ending of high school did not catch up with students like Laura Talton until last week.

“It didn’t get really bittersweet until this last week while we were all sitting around and saying this is it,” Talton said. “We were looking at our class and saying this could be the last time we see some of these people, which is really sad. But, it’s really exciting because I’ve been at Morgan since kindergarten. We’ve been in this bubble. It’s going to be exciting to step out and see new realities, new challenges, just a new world.”

Talton will attend Wake Forest University to study English.

Commencement ceremonies will be as follows:

Morgan Academy: May 14 at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium

Wallace Community College: May 14 at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium

Cathedral Academy: May 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Christ the King Church

Central Christian Academy: May 21 at 7 p.m. in the school gymnasium

Dallas County High School: May 21 at 7 p.m. on the football field

Southside High School: May 21 at 6 p.m. at the school

Meadowview Christian Academy: May 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the football field

Keith High School: May 21 at 7 p.m. at the school

Selma High School: May 25 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium

Francis Marion High School: May 25 at 7:15 at the school auditorium