Caps flew, cameras flashed, and family and friends cheered as schools across the Mid-Columbia celebrated high school seniors who achieved their hard-earned diplomas.

Some graduates were somber; others made their classmates, families and friends laugh, but all who spoke in auditoriums and stadiums from Finley to Othello shared hope for the future in the messages they shared.

Today, Chiawana, Pasco, Kennewick, Kamiakin, Southridge, Prosser and Kiona-Benton City high schools, along with Tri-Cities Prep, are among several schools celebrating their graduates' accomplishments.

Friday's celebrations included the following schools:

Hanford High School

RICHLAND -- The Hanford High Class of 2011 went out big.

It was such a strong class that the faculty couldn't narrow the list of nominees for the Falcon Award to just one. So for the first time in the school's history, there were three.

Erin Hegarty, Cade Maldonado and Ashley Nelson received the honor for winning the respect of students and faculty.

Instead of picking a class song, the Richland students named a singer: graduating senior Tommy Cassidy. He wrote and rapped the original song, Memories, for his classmates.

And rather than one valedictorian, the class had six, including Leonie Oostrom from The Netherlands, who became a citizen the day before Friday's ceremony and is headed to Harvard College to study chemistry.

It's easy to look at life in black and white, she said. She hears that natural is good. But arsenic, mold and crocodiles are natural, she said.

She hears that chemicals are bad. But everything is chemical, she said.

As graduates head out into the world, they should not divide it in two but be aware of its complexities, she said.

Other valedictorians were Sydney Bader, Stephen Grindel, Rebecca Hu, Jennifer Kang and Ian Reddick.

Salutatorian Jennifer Chou compared the end of high school to swallowing that last bite of appetizer so graduates can move on to the entree.

Some 312 students are moving onto the next course, plus 10 foreign exchange students who will be missing their new friends, Dairy Queen, peanut butter and free refills at restaurants.

"Live long and prosper," Reddick said.

-- Annette Cary

Richland High School

RICHLAND -- In between the obligatory beach balls, the jokes and the congratulatory smiles, a few somber moments sneaked into Friday's ceremony for the 394 graduates of Richland High School.

The first came courtesy of valedictorian Peter McGuckin, who said he had lately realized that good grades aren't everything.

He encouraged his classmates to "make college mean more than getting a degree -- make a difference in somebody's life."

The teacher chosen by the seniors for a speech picked up on that sentiment.

Daniel Porter urged the young adults not to give in to the consumerism and pessimism embedded in popular culture.

"Make your life about more than being a market-driven consumer," he said. "The best fun in life doesn't cost much."

Principal Gordon Comfort showcased a fairly large group of graduates who already have signed up for a selfless path.

"When I began here four years ago, there were six or seven graduates who were going into the armed forces," Comfort said. "This year, there are 28."

He then read the names of those 28. Each stood, decorated with a red, white and blue tassel.

Every last parent, friend, teacher and classmate in the arena rose for a thundering ovation.

-- Jacques Von Lunen

River View High School

FINLEY -- Future accountants, nurses, auto mechanics, an astronomer, barber and elementary school teacher all graduated Friday from River View High School in Finley.

The 76 members of the Class of 2011 said farewell to high school and embraced their future before a packed house in the school's gym.

"As you graduate, and I retire, I know what my next adventure will be -- zip-lining in Central America. Do you? You have opportunities and choices ahead in your life, be critical thinkers, form your own opinions," said Superintendent Suzanne Feeney, who retires at the end of the month.

In his speech, Valedictorian Randy Fishman, noted, "We have at least four students playing college athletics next year, at least 10 going to a four-year university and more than I can count pursuing some form of post-secondary education.

"All of us have worked hard to get to this point, but that's all it is, a point. A point in the race of life, not the finish line. This moment is just the beginning, the beginning for a graduating class, that I believe, has the potential to help change the world one day," he said.

Salutatorian Hattie Johnson urged her classmates "to find a new goal and charge ahead, nothing is impossible."

Classmate Shaylynn Rogers inspired them to remember they're not alone, singing Rascal Flatts' I Won't Let Go.

Then it was time to celebrate as caps soared, balloons fell and Silly String shot across the gym.

-- Loretto J. Hulse

Columbia High School

BURBANK -- Columbia High School graduates did their own thing as they marched into the gym Friday night carrying yellow roses.

Entering from each side of the room, as the pairs met in the middle for their walk down the middle aisle, some hugged, some knocked knuckles, some gave good-natured punches and some just nodded.

All the while, the band played on.

Salutatorian German Martinez addressed his 50 fellow grads with some funny stories about the last four years in Burbank. He also said he wished there had been more time.

"We had fun and we learned," he said. "But this isn't the end, it's just the beginning."

Senior Jackilyn Linja talked about the value of learning from failures and to keep going. Valedictorian Alyssa Hope shared some favorite memories from grade school to high school.

"We started school together with lunch pails and crans (aka Crayons) and had to get on the big scary yellow bus each day," she said. "By the time we got to high school there were bonfires and football games. After tonight we'll go different directions and chase our dreams."

When student Jessica Anderson walked to the podium to sing Elton John's Your Song she faltered a moment as she got caught up in the emotion of the ceremony. But she quickly pulled herself together and belted out the song like a pro.

Walla Walla County Sheriff John Turner was the guest speaker. He talked about the importance of having vision. "Dream big and never give up," he told them.

He encouraged the graduates to follow the same set of values his law enforcement department lives by.

Embrace honor, integrity, loyalty, courage, commitment, fairness and duty, he said.

-- Dori O'Neal

Othello High School

OTHELLO -- While new graduates across the nation waxed poetically about the places they would go, or metaphorical roads diverging in a wood, Othello High School's three valedictorians took less philosophical approaches to their commencement speeches.

Christine Kirkwood, Ashley Almaguer and Ryan Garza each opted instead to simply thank their families and their teachers for preparing them for the challenges to come.

They also thanked their friends for the bonds they formed during their four years together.

"It's the close friendships we made, and our growing up together that makes us special, unstoppable," Almaguer said.

Garza said he first realized the Class of 2011 was special at a freshman barbecue back in 2007.

"Othello High School had no idea what was in store," he said before recounting stories of the more than 200 graduates' years together, and offering a prayer for his classmates.

"Remember Jesus loves you and will always guide you," Garza said.

Kirkwood challenged her classmates to attack life with passion and dedication, and to recognize they have long and exciting roads ahead.

"Tonight is just a milestone on the journey of life," she said.

-- Michelle Dupler

Connell High School

CONNELL -- Connell High School's 104 graduating seniors, the purple and gold Class of 2011, celebrated commencement Friday night with Pomp and Circumstance and a Silly String free-for-all at the school's Esser Field.

Valedictorians Makenna Rowley, Heidi Empey and Kraymer Eppich gave speeches of encouragement, and Salutatorian Allison Erickson advised the graduating seniors to pursue happiness.

"Life without change is not an option and we call can do something great with our lives," Erickson proclaimed.

But it was English teacher Len Herschman's parting words that got the graduates grinning.

"You may not be the brightest class, but you are the most entertaining. This group cares not as much about their collective GPA than about who they are as human beings," he said.

"Take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses and become the hero of your own life," Herschman advised.

Outstanding Eagle graduates earned nearly $106,000 in scholarships.

An overflow crowd of more than 500 people attended the commencement, which Principal Tim Peterson noted, was the first time in three years there was a cloudless sky and no need to dry off chairs.

-- John Trumbo

River's Edge High School

RICHLAND -- The six seniors chosen to speak at River's Edge High School's graduation ceremony did so with gusto. Their messages shot straight from their lips with honesty and thought-provoking wisdom.

Each addressed the audience with, "What's up?" before sliding into their speeches. And all praised their teachers for sticking by them during the tough times.

Kevin Ashley kept his speech light and funny, admitting to the audience that he came to the Richland alternative school with the mind of child.

"I was on a dark path of self-destruction but River's Edge got me through," he said. "And I never thought it would be possible, but I'm headed for Central Washington University in fall."

Nala Watters kept her classmates laughing about the ups and downs of learning before getting to her point: "None of us are students here. We're fellow residents of River's Edge. And this is where learning is fun and fun is learning."

Pedro Dimas told his 36 fellow graduates that four years ago he never would have dreamed he'd be standing at a graduation ceremony.

"I wouldn't be here if not for my family -- both at home and here at school," he said. "The most important thing I learned here at River's Edge is never give up on yourself. I'm a dad now and I want my daughter to be proud of her daddy."

Ethan Turnipseed described his journey through school as arduous and miserable until he got to River's Edge, where he was amazed to be treated fairly by teachers.

"For the first time in my life I found myself enjoying a real school," he said.

Max Leonard gave the audience a glimpse into his troubled youth where education had no place.

"I went from being proud of my idiocy to building friendships and ready to take a good look myself," he said. "I came out of River's Edge a different person. Where once I was in a bad place with no future, I'm now headed off to college in the fall."

-- Dori O'Neal

New Horizons High School

PASCO -- Some people would consider the 47 students at Pasco's New Horizons High School who received diplomas Friday night drop-outs.

But Principal Christy Challender said, "Today we call them graduates."

Valedictorian Liliana De Jesus said the students already have overcome challenges to earn their diplomas. And that didn't happen without help from teachers, family and friends, she said.

In the class, five graduated early, 14 graduated on time, 14 are teen parents and two are 21 years old, Challender said.

De Jesus said the students have achieved their goals of getting a high school diploma. For some, their dreams have now changed as hers has.

As a child, De Jesus said she dreamed of becoming a doctor. Now, she dreams of being a registered nurse, which will still allow her to have time with her two daughters.

Some of the young adults are headed to the military to get four-year or two-year degrees or straight into the work force, said graduate Dylan Amadio.

"We've learned that life is about choices," he said. And the consequences of those choices, he added.

The school's four salutatorians are Mohammad Abdularim, Maria Labra, Karina Ramirez and Katrina Rivera.

-- Kristi Pihl