True to the name, Pioneer High School graduates were the first to blaze into the new millennium with their official graduation ceremony Tuesday night.
The high school, formerly known as Alternative High, held its second commencement exercise at the Governor's Mansion at 6 p.m.
"I'm excited, nervous and scared all at the same time," said graduate Marsha Schlachta. "This is where life begins."
Alison Brown was proud to be part of the new high school.
"It's awesome," she said. "We're only the second people to graduate from it. We're different."
Principal Charles Keller said the Carson City school was designed to accommodate the different students.
"Here are 13 students that would not have made it at Carson High School. They needed a different type of system and a different type of structure," he said. "It's a true success story."
Lindy Johnson, the valedictorian, spoke of how the school had grown over the last year.
"I loved it," she said before the ceremony. "I learned a lot of different things. I learned how to fit in more."
Johnson said she was shocked and honored to learn that she would be graduating at the top of her class but said she had help getting there.
"The teachers are what make the school," she said.
Carson High School Principal Glen Adair said he is pleased with the progress of the school.
"It is the most successful it has ever been," he said.
Other area high schools will soon follow with graduation ceremonies.
Dayton, Smith Valley, and Galena high schools will graduate on Friday. Carson City, Virginia City, Fernley and Yerington high schools will graduate on Saturday.
Douglas High School will hold its graduation ceremony on June 16.
This year's graduates from Pioneer High School are:
Tamara Lynn Babb
Katie Belle Baldwin
Alison Lyn Brown
Rachel Amanda Bryla
Louis Paul Carrette
Shawna M. Daniels
Lindy Suzanne Johnson
Danny Andre Malone
Christopher Francis McDaniel
Krista E. Oates
Marsha Lynn Schlachta
Robert Edward Slater
Jerrie Lynn VanDeusen
