Photos by Bill Ryan/The Gazette The Middletown High School Class of 2005 graduated June 1 at Mount St. Mary's University. Senior Kira Wilkes has her photo taken by her grandfather, Jim Gourley of Utah, and brother, Vinny.

A flood of mixed emotions drew parallels through the two schools in Western Frederick County, often viewed as divided by class lines.

"I'm finally free," said Brunswick High graduate Robert Huey-Plweinski, outside of Mount Saint Mary's field house after the Friday evening ceremony. "I'm finally out of here."

While hundreds of friends and family members of Brunswick High's 238 graduates flocked out of the stadium, Huey-Plweinski beamed as his friends patted his back and draped their arms around his neck.

Like roughly 60 of his peers, he said he's heading straight into the workforce and has already scheduled his first interview for this week with an electronics company in Rockville. Ten Brunswick High students plan to enroll in the armed forces, while 170 said they will attend college, according to a high school survey.

More than $1.5 million in total scholarship money was offered to Brunswick High students.

Graduates said after-school activities, such as the student government association, drama, band or sports teams will be among their fondest memories of high school.

A member of the Random Acts of Kindness volunteer group, Huey-Plweinski founded an acceptance group called Advocates for Tolerance and said he regrets leaving before launching its expansion.

A few days earlier, Middletown students reminisced about their own extracurricular activities, including senior year parties.

A total of 313 seniors graduated from Middletown High, including 17 valedictorians and 5 salutatorians, in a June 1 afternoon ceremony, also at Mount Saint Mary's. About 80 percent of Middletown's Class of 2005 will enroll in college in the fall, according to the school's survey. Middletown High seniors this year were offered more than $4 million in total scholarship money.

Father of Middletown High valedictorian Jamison Parker, Jerry Parker waited with his wife, Denise, for his son, retreating down the aisle as a final graduation song filtered through the field house. "I very proud of my son, specifically, but I'm very proud of the entire class," Parker said.

During the ceremonies, speakers quoted famous figures, such as poet Robert Frost, country singer Garth Brooks and children's author Dr. Seuss, while principals, counselors and county school officials rallied exiting classes with messages of pride.

Middletown graduate Peter Grossnickle said he would remember his last varsity football season, also a last for varsity football Coach Tim Ambrose. "I'm going to miss [Ambrose]," Grossnickle said. "I'm glad I got to play his last season with him."

Many Middletown seniors last year attended parties together or took road trips to neighboring towns, Grossnickle said.

"Senior year was the best," he said. "It couldn't get any wilder."

Grossnickle, who works part-time at Sears, said he is considering joining the Frederick County Sheriff's Office, where he interned last year and will likely take classes at Frederick Community College this fall.

Mallory Kirchnir, a Middletown graduate, was a member of the Key Club, Student Government Association, the Interact Club and was co-president of Upperclassmen Taking Charge, a peer group that fosters inclusive attitudes.

After having walked the stage, shaking hands with school heads, Kirchnir, who will enroll in Palm Beach Atlantic University to major in journalism, said she was "glad it's over."

"I think all the work I did paid off," she said. "It's nice to know I can look forward."

Outside, Mildred Clites, who had traveled 100 miles from Hyman, Pa., to attend her granddaughter Bethany Clites' graduation. She said he was "proud" and had high hoped for Bethany, who clutched a bouquet of roses, "as long as she keeps her head on straight and has a goal."

Bethany, last season's Middletown High Flags captain, said she will work fulltime this summer at KinderKare and enroll in Frederick Community College in the fall.

After Brunswick's ceremony, Huey-Plweinski said he could hardly believe he had graduated.

"I was just waiting for someone to say "Ha, ha ­ it's a joke. See you next year'," he said, surrounded by friends in the parking lot before heading to the school's after-graduation Safe and Sane celebration, an alcohol-free event.