Cyndi Loza

As graduation approaches, Washoe County seniors are taking a few last looks at their local high schools.

“It is very bittersweet,” said Wooster High School senior Diana Vaden, 18, of Sparks, who plans to attend the University of Southern California. “I’m probably going to be crying like crazy at graduation, but it’s good to know that Wooster played such a role in preparing me for the next step.” About 2,865 seniors in the Washoe County School District are expected to graduate in June, with most ceremonies at Lawlor Events Center.

“I’m excited and nervous (about) just being on my own and being able to live by myself and have everything in my hands,” said Hug High School senior Giovanni Bisio, who received a scholarship to play football at Mayville State University in North Dakota.

Katharine Mancuso, 18, a senior at Incline High School, said she is going to miss Nevada when she leaves to attend Hillsdale College in Michigan.

“I was eager to graduate at the beginning of the year, but now I’m getting homesick in advance,” Mancuso said. “I’m just going to miss the really good relationships I had with all the teachers. It’s because of them that I received the good grades that I did and am going to the college I am.”

Others students are looking forward to leaving Northern Nevada.

“Sparks and Reno are just so small,” Vaden said. “I’m really a big-city person.”

For some students, walking across the stage during graduation is a feat they thought they’d never accomplish.

“I heard friends influence you a lot, and a lot of my friends have dropped out,” said Ubaldo Torres, 18, a senior at Hug High School. “But, I mean, I kept on going, and I’m just happy I made it through and happy that I made my (Hispanic) people proud.”

Josie Kolitz, 18, a senior at Washoe High School, also thought she’d never graduate. She has attended Galena High School, Wooster and the Regional Technical Institute and is six months pregnant.

“It makes me feel great that I am actually going to graduate high school because, for a while there, I thought I wasn’t going to,” said Kolitz, who plans to attend Truckee Meadows Community College for a culinary degree. “If it wasn’t for Washoe (High School), there wasn’t a chance in hell, honestly, that I was going to walk.”

Graduation numbers

Lyon County

• Seniors in Lyon County School District: 521

Douglas County

• Seniors in Douglas County School District: 490

Carson City

• Seniors in Carson City School District: 506

Washoe County

• Seniors in Washoe County School District: 2,865
• Damonte Ranch 189
• Galena High School 268
• Gerlach High School 3
• Hug High School 130
• Incline High school 60
• McQueen High School 331
• North Valleys High School 282
• Picollo Special Education School 11
• Reed High School 391
• Reno High School 353
• Regional Technical Institute 35
• Spanish Springs High School 340
• Sparks High School 134
• Truckee Meadows Community College High School 90
• Washoe High School 57
• Wooster High School 191

Other schools in Washoe County

• Sage Ridge School 20
• Bishop Manogue High School 138
• Davidson Academy of Nevada 1