Renee Dillard spent 7 years and 3 months at Mooseheart and was sponsored by Klamath Falls, OR Lodge 1106. She said the emotions were strong throughout the day.

Dillard is headed back to Oregon, where she will attend Klamath Community College. She said she was happy to be a high school graduate.

"It feels like a lot of relief," Dillard said. "I have so much ahead of me that I'm still scared."

Dillard spent her middle school and high school years at Mooseheart, which was about the norm for this year's graduating class. The average stay at Mooseheart for the 21 graduates was six years, six months and 12 days, with six of the graduating class having spent a decade or more at the Child City.

"It's been a lot of fun," Dillard said. "I learned a lot."

Dillard was appreciative for the chance offered her by the men and women of the Moose fraternity.

"Honestly, without them, I wouldn't have been able to do this," Dillard said, "It's been the easiest thing to go through this with their support."

Floyd Mays was one of those graduates with more than ten years at the Child City. His length of stay, sponsored by Chicago, IL Southwest Lodge 44, was ten years, 9 months on graduation day.

"I've been here for so long - I thought I was going to start crying," Mays said. "I'm also happy that it's over with. I got to experience Mooseheart. I hope I left behind a legacy. There are so many emotions. It seemed like freshman year was yesterday. And now we're graduating and going on to bigger things."

Mays will attend Augustana College this fall. He said he stayed up the evening before graduation talking with some of his long-time friends at Mooseheart.

"We were up all night talking about the past," Mays said. "It hurts to be leaving. But I have to move on and get on with life."

Like Dillard, Mays was at Mooseheart through middle school as well as high school and was aware that none of this would have been possible without the support of the Moose.

"Oh, I can't thank them enough," Mays said. "They took me out of an environment and put me in a good place. They're the reason I'm going to Augustana, along with (fellow 2008 grad) Mike (Tovar). We're going to make the most of our scholarships."

Gabby Datil spent two years and 10 months at Mooseheart; essentially three school years. Sponsored by Streamwood, IL Lodge 2055, she will attend Elmhurst College, where she intends to study nursing.

"I'm excited and sad at the same time, Datil said. "I'm very excited to start my new life."

"I kind of knew about Mooseheart," Datil said. "I had a cousin who was here. I knew about the point system and I wasn't too sure how I'd handle it. But it worked out really well."

Datil smiled when she was asked to reflect on walking across the Fieldhouse stage to receive her diploma.

"It feels good," Datil said. "I'm relieved. It's like a weight has shifted off my shoulders and it's a good feeling."

Kenny Arceri spent two school years at Mooseheart, sponsored by Chicago Southwest Lodge 44. He will attend Bradley University.

"Even though I was only here for two years, Mooseheart did a lot for me," Arceri said. "I know it's harder for the people who have been here for a long time. But the relationships we make here are strong. We're so close to everybody. It's hard to leave."

Arceri said he wants to major in something involving Mathematics or Engineering. He said his time at Mooseheart helped prepare him for these next stages in his life.

"It was a really great experience," Arceri said. "It's a safe environment. Coming from where I was, to here to be in a safe spot was great."

Arceri had kind words for the men and women of the Moose fraternity who provided for his stay at the Child City. "I would want to say 'thank you' to them and to tell them that I never would have made it without them," Arceri said