Melissa Bernhardt is going to miss all the friends she’s made at East Rowan High School these past four years.

But that’s not stopping her excitement about attending N.C. State University this fall.

“I can’t wait,” said Bernhardt, who was senior class president. “It’s been a great four years, but I’m ready for new experiences...

“High school is just a milestone in your life. I’m just looking forward to the good things in the future.”

Graduation ceremonies for Rowan County high schools began this morning as 246 seniors from East Rowan High School walked across the stage in Catawba College’s Keppel Auditorium.

South Rowan HighSchools holds graduation at 5 p.m. today and Henderson Independent tonight at 8. Tomorrow, graduation ceremonies are scheduled at 10 a.m. for West Rowan, 2 p.m. for North Rowan and 8 p.m. for Salisbury.

All take place in Keppel Auditorium at Catawba College.

At East Rowan’s ceremony, guest speaker Chad Costantino parked his motorcycle in an aisle of the auditorium and centered his speech around the letters in the name “Harley.”

Costantino grew up in eastern Rowan County and volunteered to attend North Rowan High School when the county and Salisbury school systems merged.

“I want these graduates to remember this not for two days but for the rest of their lives,” he said.

Dr. Henry Starr has been principal at East Rowan for 18 years. He still finds the job rewarding.

“Every year there’ll be a student who will have a great turn around in life,” he said, as people moved tables across the stage preparing for the ceremony.

“Those type of things make it all worth while. I know a lot of people look at youth and say, ‘What’s wrong with these people?’ But I think we some fantastic students.”

Kristen Yost, who was student body president, wonders what life will be like this fall. She’ll be adjusting to a colder climate — the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone.

“I’m kind of nervous because I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” she said.