It seems that just about everyone in Douglas County will be celebrating a graduation this weekend.

Lawrence is going to be full of graduates today. Haskell Indian Nations University beat the rush by holding its commencement on May 12, but Baker University, Kansas University and both of Lawrence’s public high schools all have scheduled graduation ceremonies for today. It’s going to be a busy time. Some families even will be rushing from one ceremony to the next to share the special moment with multiple graduates.

Each one of those graduates, of course, deserves congratulations and applause for the hard work that has brought them to commencement day. Whether it is a high school or college graduation, it marks an important milestone and life passage. It also should be a time for graduates to offer special thanks to the families and teachers who have supported them on their educational journey and wish them well in their future pursuits.

Lawrence and Douglas County are proud to welcome so many guests to our community’s graduation events. We hope you have a wonderful experience. And, to the graduates, welcome to your next adventure, whatever that may be. We hope your education and your time in Lawrence will benefit you for many years to come.