Behind a backdrop of oak tree-dotted hillsides and Highway 101, Templeton High School roared with cheers as the Class of 2011 walked down the steps at the Eagle Volunteer Stadium.

The 173 graduates donned green and white gowns as they listened to speeches and then received their diplomas.

Senior Chiara Pasciuto said she could feel the excitement growing around her. “It’s like there’s a new beginning in front of me,” she said. “I’ vintage wedding gown m just not sure what it is yet.” Pasciuto plans to attend Portland State University in the fall to pursue international studies.

The hopeful and nostalgic speeches of Valedictorian Erin Roberts and Salutatorian Chris Van Harmelen seemed to capture the moment for the many graduates.

— Tonya Strickland

Shandon High School

Twenty graduates at Shandon High School celebrated in royal blue and white gowns Thursday on the West Lawn.

Valedictorian Javier Rivera Jr. and Salutatorian Andrew Whaylen Cook took honors. Senior awards were also distributed during the evening evening ceremony, where families cheered in support.

Scholarships were awarded for college and career pursuits. Student Daniel Dawson played the national anthem in an electric guitar solo.

— Tonya Strickland

Del Rio Continuation High School

Family and friends gathered to watch 41 students graduate from Del Rio Continuation High School during a commencement ceremony Thursday afternoon at Colony Park Community Center in Atascadero.

— Sarah Linn

Atascadero High School

Atascadero High School honored its 2011 graduating class at a sunny, breezy commencement ceremony.

As the graduates filed down the bleachers of Atascadero Memorial Stadium to a chorus of airhorns, many had to grab their light gray caps to keep them from flying off. They walked past family members and friends clasping cameras and cellophane-wrapped bouquets of orange roses.

Once seated, the 301 graduating Greyhounds tossed around beach balls, tortillas and inflatable toys shaped like a pink flamingo, a palm tree and a green dinosaur.

Graduating senior Megan Olshefski picked popular social networking site Facebook as the theme of her commencement speech.  cheap wedding dresses uk sale affordable cocktail dresses 2011 “High school is a social network,” she said, making references to “tagging,”  ball gown cocktail dresses ball gown cocktail dresses;“poking” and “friend requests.”

She compared the graduates’ parents to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg and joked that most of them think of “the wall” as a Pink Floyd album, not a place to post updates. “After this day, we will take the world by storm,” Olshefski told her fellow graduates.

This yearÂ’s valedictorian was Kasey Duval. Brett Buckingham and Meredith Rickard shared salutatorian honors.

— Sarah Linn

Arroyo Grande High School

Bunches of brightly colored balloons bobbed in the breeze as the 466 graduates of Arroyo Grande High strode into Doug Hitchen Stadium and took their seats.

Students gave a standing ovation to Principal Ryan Pinkerton, who is leaving after eight years at the high school to work for the San Luis Coastal school district.

Students also took a moment to honor Stephen Oliverius  off the shoulder wedding dresses with sleeves off the shoulder wedding dresses with sleeves— known as “Coach O” — who worked as a substitute teacher and joined the football staff. He died Oct. 16 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer earlier in the year.

Speaker Heather Beresford thanked the secretaries flower girls dresses flower girls dresses, librarians, counselors and janitors working at the high school.

“While the days have flashed by, the faces have not,” brides dresses she said. “What I have valued greatly at Arroyo Grande High School … is that I am an Eagle. We Eagles give it our all.”

A few speakers also thanked their teachers, who “are severely underpaid, yet give all their effort to help us excel, bridesmaid dresses gowns bridesmaid dresses gowns;” said Kenji McKinstry, one of two salutatorians.

The schoolÂ’s other salutatorian was Amanda Deering. Valedictorian Warren Crandall told the crowd to have faith in the future and beseeched his classmates to think critically and live passionately.

“These men and women, they are the future,” Stockist information and galleries of formal and informal bridal collections,winter cocktail dresses 2011 bridesmaid, prom, and flower girl dresses.; he said. “So seniors, no pressure. We only have to save the world.”

— Cynthia Lambert