By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov

There is something about being at a graduation that puts you in a great mood. I didn’t know any of the kids graduating during these commencement ceremonies, but I still had a huge smile on my face. There is just something about seeing them all so happy. Happy for a major milestone reached. Happy for the future ahead of them.

Fayette County’s five high schools held commencement at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington. I attended two of them, for Lafayette High School and Tates Creek High School.

Drama teacher Sarah Strohmaier talks with students before the Lafayette High School (Fayette County) commencement at Rupp Arena. Strohmaier wore her robes from when she graduated from Northern Kentucky University. Other teachers also wore their college graduation robes. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Drama teacher Sarah Strohmaier talks with students before the Lafayette High School (Fayette County) commencement. Strohmaier wore her robes from when she graduated from Northern Kentucky University. Other teachers also wore their college graduation robes.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Matthew Stoddard waits for the Lafayette High School (Fayette County) commencement to begin at Rupp Arena. Stoddard has working with his dad, an ice carver, while in school and is moving to New York to work for an ice carving company there after graduating. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Matthew Stoddard waits for the Lafayette High School (Fayette County) commencement to begin. Stoddard was working with his dad, an ice carver, while in school and is moving to New York to work for an ice carving company  after graduating.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lafayette High School (Fayette County) senior class president Alex Francke waits for the commencement to begin at Rupp Arena. She plans to study international business and Chinese at the University of Kentucky. "I really want to go overseas and that will get me there," she said. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lafayette High School (Fayette County) senior class president Alex Francke waits for the commencement to begin. She plans to study international business and Chinese at the University of Kentucky. “I really want to go overseas and that will get me there,” she said.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lafayette High School (Fayette County) graduates Taylor Hodge, Jamie Kanie and Morgan Knox take a picture before the ceremony at Rupp Arena. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lafayette High School (Fayette County) graduates Taylor Hodge, Jamie Kane and Morgan Knox take a picture before the ceremony.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lafayette High School (Fayette County) graduate Angel Dodge peeks at her diploma after walking across the stage at Rupp Arena. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lafayette High School (Fayette County) graduate Angel Dodge peeks at her diploma after walking across the stage.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Maddison Fischer smiles as a friend takes her picture before the Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement at Rupp Arena. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Maddison Fischer smiles as a friend takes her picture before the Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lexi Sword and Rand Ghazi help Sumar Hamad prepare for Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement at Rupp Arena. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Lexi Sword and Rand Ghazi help Sumar Hamad prepare for Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Friends help Blake Anderson adjust his mortarboard before the Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement at Rupp Arena. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Friends help Blake Anderson adjust his mortarboard before the Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Blythe Coles hugs Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) school secretary Debbie Gilley. "She runs the school," Coles said. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Blythe Coles hugs Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) school secretary Debbie Gilley. “She runs the school,” Coles said.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) graduate Spencer Johnson peeks at the gathering crowd at Rupp Arena. "Oh man, that's a lot of people," he said. Johnson has enlisted in the Marine Corps. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) graduate Spencer Johnson peeks at the gathering crowd at Rupp Arena. “Oh man, that’s a lot of people,” he said. Johnson has enlisted in the Marine Corps.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

A student celebrates receiving her diploma as she walks off the stage during the Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement at Rupp Arena. Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015

A student celebrates receiving her diploma as she walks off the stage during the Tates Creek High School (Fayette County) commencement.
Photo by Amy Wallot, May 29, 2015