BROSELEY -- Once walking across the stage to receive his diploma, Twin Rivers High School graduate Kyle Stewart was met by a special someone with a congratulatory hug.
Grayson Hardcastle, Stewart's nephew, ran across the floor and leaped into the arms of his uncle and joined him and the 67 other 2018 seniors during their traditional cap toss at the graduation ceremony Sunday afternoon.
While Hardcastle is still too young to realize graduation could mean his uncle will not be home as much, his parents said Stewart will be attending Southeast Missouri State University at the Sikeston campus, so he will be home each evening to see his nephew.
Dustin Dunning sat in the bleachers of the Twin Rivers High School gymnasium waiting to see his little sister, Tara Dunning, accept her high school diploma.
Dustin, also a graduate of Twin Rivers, sat in the same place as his sister 15 years ago awaiting the same accomplishment.
"It's crazy she's graduating," he said. "It doesn't seem real. Time flies."
The Twin Rivers class of 2018 was lead into a packed gymnasium of supporters by Co-valedictorian Cameron Bleem as he "strutted" his way to the front row.
Rapping through his valedictorian speech, Bleem explained after "four years in this institution," he's finally finished with all his classes.
"Sure, at times I've had lots of fun, but after this one I'm finally done," he continued to rap.
Bleem went on to add the world belonged to the class of 2018 and the future is what they made of it.
"It's been four years in this institution, so lets get this high school graduation through its conclusion," he said ending his rhyming address.
Hannah Finley took the stage following Bleem as a co-valedictorian for the 2018 class.
"I'm not sure how to follow that," she said with a laugh.
Quoting Walt Disney, Finley told her fellow classmates all of their dreams could become true if they have the courage to pursue them.
"In the pursuit of our dreams there will be bumps in the road and we can either fall flat on our face, or we can learn from them and have the courage to use them as stepping stones," she said.
Reminding the graduating class this is not the end, but the beginning to go off and do amazing things with their lives, Finley said the person who cures cancer might be sitting beside someone in the room.
"Well, beside me," Finley said referencing Bleem.
To conclude her speech, she thank her class for the adventure.
"Now go have a new one," she encouraged.
Honored to be the 2018 Twin Rivers High School salutatorian, Brooke Blume thanked her family, especially her mom and dad, for their support to achieve the academic honor.
She also gave special recognition to her best friend since kindergarten, Katie Baxter.
"You have always been by my side for sports, clubs and everything else," Blume said. "You always motivated me and told me I could do it when I thought I couldn't."
Referencing the words decorated on top of her graduation cap, Blume told her class "A world of possibilities awaits us," and said it was true for each classmate.
"You can achieve anything you set your mind to," she said. "Even if they seem a little far fetched."
Comparing the paths each graduate will take to a road with bumps, hills and curves, Blume said each one of the roads taken to accomplish goals would be different.
"Just like a road, you will get to the end of it," she said. "Stay true to yourself and don't follow someone else's path."
Of the 68 graduates, 16 are university-bound, 39 will attend community college or a technical school, two enlisted in the military and 11 will enter the work world and seek full-time employment.
As a whole, the seniors earned $1,290,088 in scholarship money to assist in continuing their education.
Faith Lindsay was surrounded by friends after the ceremony who could not hold back their tears.
"We are very proud of her," Gracen Pullum and Cacia Williams said of their friend. "We are just sad she is moving thousand of miles away."
Lindsay said the three girls have been friends their whole lives and moving five hours away was beginning to set in for the younger friends.
Donning a camera through much of the graduation ceremony is what helped Anita Kingree keep her emotions under control as her son, Adam Woodard, concluded his high school career.
"Emotions are pretty high, but I got through it by taking pictures and focusing on that," she said.
Before leaving Twin Rivers High School for what could be the last time, Cassi Cochran said her thoughts were to just take a big, deep breath.
Cochran will be attending Three Rivers College in the fall and plans to become a nurse practitioner.
"I was going to go to Springfield for college, but I couldn't because I wanted to stay home," she said.
Brandi Williams posed for pictures with her daughter, Jarrica Williams, at the conclusion of the ceremony.
"It has been a very emotional week," Brandi said leading up to Sunday afternoon. "It helps a lot she is going to stay local after graduation."