Flex's intimate ceremony had no valedictorian speech and no formal commencement address.

"It's all of us here to remind them how great they are," Principal Karen Wessel said. "These students are one of the finest classes I've ever had."

Teacher Jeff Szarzi could have spoken about any of the students when he said to Zachary Krom, "In the beginning, you moved by inches and then you jumped by miles."

Krom returned the praise, saying, "I want to thank you guys for pushing me."

Each student commented on what Flex meant to her or him. Parents, brothers or sisters -- anyone wanting to speak -- praised the students. The words were heartfelt, often with the same message: You have overcome great obstacles to succeed.

"This is an incredible bunch of children," Flex secretary Laura Norton said. "Not children anymore -- adults. They have taught me so much about how to just keep on going. If you can continue to do that, you will all be incredibly successful, no matter what happens."

The same evening, the crowd filling Homer High's Alice Witte Gymnasium recognized that school's class of 2009 with ceremonies beginning with "Pomp and Circumstance," performed by the school band under the direction of Bill Searle. One theme dominated the occasion: This group of 98 young people, many of whom have grown up with one another their entire lives, were a tight-knit bunch.

"It's good to finally have it over, but it's sad at the same time," said graduate Robbie Brymer, who plans to pursue an architectural engineering degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage. "We're a close class. We've bonded a lot, especially at the end of the year."

After Principal Reyna Duenas, co-valedictorians Teresa Wisner and Brittney Wyatt and class president Hannah Grady addressed the graduates, the audience and class enjoyed a slide presentation created by the yearbook staff. A collage of photos, as well as joyous whoops from the crowd, accompanied the name of each graduate.

Wyatt got the class going with one last Mariner cheer -- "I say gold, you say blue!" -- and cracked up her classmates with a recollection of the time her dad, Head Football Coach Camron Wyatt, ripped off his shirt at the homecoming pep rally and had his head shaved by the football players.

Commencement speaker and Homer Middle School science teacher Duncan Wanamaker interspersed his mostly serious speech, a lengthy list of advice for "real life," with humor.

"I hope you were nice to the nerds," he said. "You'll probably be working for one someday."

After the presentation of diplomas and the tossing of caps, the bleachers emptied and tears started to flow.

Photo by Joseph Robertia Grace Ehlers, gave a tear-jerker of a Valedictorian address during Ninilchik School's commencement ceremony. Many in attendance were sobbing by the time she finished delivering her heartfelt speech.

If there is one truth about Ninilchik High School, it's that those inhabiting the halls are as much family as they are students and faculty. These feelings were clear during the May 20 commencement ceremony.

"I'm glad I grew up and went to school here. The teachers are more like friends. They've always helped me out and been there when things got tough," said Tylor Sutherland, who began attending the school in seventh grade.

Rather than dwelling on days past, Sutherland and other graduates were shifting their vision to the future.

"Sports were fun and we had good coaches, so I'll miss basketball, but I'm hoping to play at a community college level somewhere," Sutherland said.

Forrest Garrison said he enjoyed playing sports at Ninilchik and hopes to continue with them in life after high school.

"I love sports and love watching them. I'm not good enough to play at a college level, but I still want to be involved with sports in some way," said Garrison, who will attend the University of Montana in Bozeman, with hopes of pursuing a career in athletic training or physical therapy.

Cody Presley will attend the University of Alaska in Anchorage on a Project GRAD scholarship in the fall. Because of what the future holds, he wasn't too emotional about his high school days being over.

"I don't feel sad because to me it doesn't feel like an end. It feels like a beginning," he said.

The following day, Nikolaevsk paid tribute to its seven high school graduates with former Nikolaevsk Principal Terry Martin offering the commencement address. Martin, who now is Ninilchik's principal, served at Nikolaevsk when the graduates were in middle school.

"This is a talented group, lots of leaders," Martin said, reflecting on individual changes he's observed as the students have grown. He pointed to Anna Gordeev's stubbornness, which has transformed into a persistence that carried her onto the volleyball court even when she had an injured knee. Markell Malkomukov's high level of responsibility has made him a force with which to contend on the basketball court and a competent fishing boat captain.

"I can't tell you how to raise a perfect kid, but I can tell you how to raise a rotten one," Martin told the school. "That's to shield them from consequences, give them everything they want, spoil them and not let them learn from their mistakes. (Nikolaevsk's) got that figured out."

Encouraging the existing partnership between the village and the school, Martin asked graduates to pass along three pieces of advice to younger students:

* School is very important.

* Listen to your teacher.

* Do your work.

"They have phenomenal results (at Nikolaevsk) and I think that's why," Martin said.

"They have high expectations and they support the school. That high level of support consistently is what truly makes the difference."

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michaelarmstrong.@homernews.com. McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com. Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaronselbig.@homernews.com. Peninsula Clarion reporter Joseph Robertia also contributed to this story.