Dawson County High School seniors wrapped up their high school careers last week and have begun the countdown to their final hurdle-crossing that stage on Saturday morning.
The Class of 2017 will graduate, weather willing, at 8:30 a.m. on May 27 at Tiger Stadium.
If the weather is unwilling, the ceremony will be delayed as long as noon to accommodate passing rain showers.
As of Tuesday, weather forecasts were calling for mostly sunny skies and a high of 81 degrees.
"The graduation of a senior class is truly a community event in Dawson County," said Superintendent Damon Gibbs. "It is a day that we celebrate the collaborative efforts of our faculty and staff, our families, and most importantly, our students."
This year's senior class consists of 229 graduating students with 129 of those students eligible for the Hope Scholarship.
To be eligible for the Hope, a student must have maintained a minimum 3.0 grade point average throughout their high school career.
As of press time, the number of honor graduates was still being calculated by school counselors.
To be an honor graduate a student must have maintained a 3.8 numerical average for all four years of high school.
This senior class was awarded over $180,000 in scholarships during honors night ceremonies.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled to last about two hours and students and families will hear from this year's valedictorian and salutatorian who had not been announced as of press time.
There will be general parking available in the two front parking lots as well as on practice field No. 2 and at the Performing Arts Center. For guests needing extra assistance, there are handicapped spaces in several locations including the front and side of the school building.
There will also be space for those needing assistance near the agriculture barn in the back of the school and several golf carts to assist.
There will also be a shuttle running between Robinson Elementary and the high school for guests who park there.
Students are asked to park behind the school at the softball field.
Were rain to push the ceremony past the noon delay on Saturday, the ceremony will be moved to 6 p.m. on May 28, still in the stadium.
Moving the ceremony to Sunday would prevent the school from having to limit the number of guests if the ceremony were indoors, according to Principal Richard Crumley.
"I would encourage everyone to come celebrate the Class of 2017 on Saturday morning at 8:30 in Tiger Stadium. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome," Gibbs said.