Another year, another class, another set of timeless memories.

The class of 2011 at Austin High School made their mark at Riverside Arena Friday, with 254 students receiving their diploma at the annual AHS graduation ceremony.

There were 21 students who graduated with high distinction, 27 students who graduated with distinction and a whole lot of relieved faces underneath bright red caps.

“I’m finally done with high school,” said Katie Johnson, who graduated with high distinction and plans to attend the University of Minnesota to study nursing.

“It’s a lot of hard work but it pays off,” she added.

There were plenty of proud parents in the audience as well.

“I feel pretty good,” said Darin Simonson. “She got through it.”

His daughter Allison plans to attend Riverland this fall.

Other students reflected on how important this day was.

“This is a big moment in my life,” said Derrick Chandee.

Chandee will attend Riverland as well to take care of his general education requirements.

Yet all students are looking forward to what the future holds.

“We’re going to be all grown up,” said Nyamouch Chuony, who plans to attend Minnesota State University-Mankato and wants to go into a child care-related field.

There were plenty of nervous students as well, like Liliana Cisneros de Hernandez, who was visibly shaken waiting to be seated. She was still excited to be there, however. She’s looking forward to attending MSU-Mankato to go into engineering.

Yet the relief was clear on every student’s face.

“I’m stoked. I finally did it,” said Abby Evenson.

As these students move on with their lives, they now know their decisions will matter, their fates are their own to choose.

“You’re going to be the decision maker,” Austin Superintendent David Krenz told the students during the ceremony. “You’re going to be the catalyst in these next steps of your lives.”