T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS — Marshalltown High School seniors Ryne Downey, David Brintnall, Taylor Lyon, Melissa Avalos-Ochoa and Adelaide Oberender are excited for graduation in less than two weeks.

Graduation season is going strong in Central Iowa, and one of the largest events of the year is coming up fast — the Marshalltown High School commencement ceremony.

Members of the Class of 2019 are wrapping up their high school days and said they are ready for life’s next steps.

“I’m going to MCC to study dental hygiene,” senior Taylor Lyon said. She said she looks forward to the freedom of being out of high school.

David Brintnall also said he looks forward to making independent choices.

“I’m excited for just going somewhere and trying new experiences,” he said.

Brintnall’s plan is to go into engineering at Iowa State University, though he is still deciding his exact area of focus in that field.

For Melissa Avalos-Ochoa, Marshalltown Community College is the next step after graduation.

“I’m excited to get started on college and get my pre-requisites out of the way,” she said.

Her plan is to start at the community college and then transfer to Iowa State.

“I want to double-major in microbiology and genetics,” Avalos-Ochoa said.

A couple of the students will be looking to go out-of-state after they graduate.

“I look forward to being in the city,” said Ryne Downey, whose journey will take him to the University of Missouri-St. Louis where he will swim and study biology.

Adelaide Oberender said she is headed to Western Michigan University to study graphic design.

“I’m excited to move on in life,” she said.

That feeling was shared by Mackenzie Moyer, who will go on to study psychology, specifically children’s psychology.

Abril Alcaraz said she wants to work with kids in her career.

“I’m kind of stuck between something in special education and something in with pediatrics,” she said.

All of these seniors and hundreds more will don Bobcat-colored caps and gowns for commencement at 2:30 p.m. June 2 at the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse.