With a variety of colored stoles and gold cords for honor roll, members of the Umatilla High School Class of 2011 enter the gym for commencement ceremonies on Saturday.

With a short walk across a stage and the turning of a tassel, the Umatilla High School class of 2011 celebrated its graduation Saturday morning.

In full caps and gowns, the students each offered a different emotion, ranging from nervousness and excitement to a bittersweet goodbye to high school.

It feels like a birthday I know its a big deal, but it hasnt hit me yet, Samantha Galbraith said. It doesnt really mean anything until youre done and you can say, I graduated and go out and do something.

Galbraith said she plans on attending the University of Oregon to study accounting.

Im good with numbers. They just make sense to me, she said.

Angel Cole, one of the class four valedictorians, will also travel away from home for college. The graduate said she will attend Western Oregon University to study nursing.

I think its a smart career choice, she said of nursing. Theres a need, and I think its what I was meant to do.

Although Cole said she will not miss school food and having to wake up at 7 a.m. every day, she will miss the people in Umatilla, including friends and teachers.

Ill miss all the late-night study dates where we intended to study and didnt, and all the memories we made in sports, she said. I think the class of 2011 is one of the most unique classes to come through Umatilla High School. Were unique, thats for sure.

Coles description of choice for graduation was exciting, and fellow valedictorian Kassie Kennedy called the graduation experience nervewracking, especially writing and devilering a speech during the ceremony.

Its really hard trying to say what I want and not embarrass myself, she said with a laugh. Plus, Im scared of public speaking.

Kennedy will attend Blue Mountain Community College this fall and said she plans to study either nursing or secondary education. At BMCC, shell be joined by classmate Ashley Vandever.

My mom and dad are both EMTs, and I want to do something further than that, Vandever said. Im looking forward to selecting classes I want. In high school, you dont get many choices.

In addition to graduating with the class of 2011, Vandever, Galbraith and Kennedy have another thing in common: graduation will be the first time they have taken classes outside of the Umatilla School District, where each has attended since kindergarten.

Its exciting, Vandever said. I cant wait for life.