When Allison Conners’ mother died last October, she left behind a list of three things she wanted her daughter to achieve.

Connors crossed the first goal off that list last Wednesday, June 9, when she received her high school diploma during Two Rivers School commencement.

Now, she will focus on getting a driver’s license and finding a good job.

This summer, she will learn how to drive, then attend Bellevue Community College, where she hopes to transfer to a university and pursue accounting.

“This is really bittersweet,” said Sherry Carpenter, Connors’ cousin, who looked on at commencement. “She didn’t want to get her GED — she wanted her diploma.”

Like Connors, the rest of Two Rivers’ Class of 2010, have made their families, friends, alumni and teachers very proud.

The class is close-knit; 14 of the 20 who graduated this year decided to join in on the momentous night.

Beginning the graduation with an introduction to a full house of attendees that night, Principal Tom Athanases said that each graduating class at Two Rivers has been different, just as each student’s identity and personality is unique.

“This class is a diverse group of students. As they go they will be taking with them memories of themselves and their experiences,” Athanases said.

Athanases recognized the field trips, community service and goals each graduate had achieved through their time at the school. These moments included volunteering for a tree planting project with the King County Department of Natural Resources, tutoring students at Opstad Elementary, and each making a Portfolio representing themselves, their finest work and what they had learned through their education at Two Rivers.

Speaker and Snoqualmie Valley School Board President Caroline Loudenback told graduates that their Two Rivers education proved there is no one perfect way to prepare each student for the future.

Proud that each student had taken responsibility of their own education, she said that graduation will remain an important milestone in their lives.

Snoqualmie Valley Rotary Club President Nancy Whitaker and Kiwanis member David Speikers recognized each of the students.

Stephanie Koplin and Kyler Waldrop received the Rotary Club Student Awards which included a medallion and cash award while Melissa Driscoll, Allison Conners and Jessica Sylvia Day-Buehring received Kiwanis Scholarship Awards.

As each student received their long-awaited diplomas, a slideshow played, showing comments of what they appreciated the most during their time at Two Rivers.

“The school works more like a close-knit family,” said Cagle Anderson, who plans to attend Lake Washington Technical college to take restaurant management classes which will assist him in his plans to someday open “Cagle’s Bucket O’ Chicken.”

“I’ve never had a teacher I didn’t like, a class I didn’t try,” Cagle said. “Now that I’m a free man, I’ll find a job to occupy my time and get into a good college.”