This is it. After four long (or short) years, the Class of 2011 finally did it! They graduated! The students at Waukesha South, North and West graduate Saturday and will be partaking in commencement ceremonies. Catholic Memorial High School has already graduated its Class of 2011 and Patch freelancer Kevin Harnack took photos of the private high school's ceremony. Patch plans on being at all three ceremonies to snap photos of your graduates taking yet another step into adulthood. Expect the pictures to be on Patch Sunday afternoon and enjoy the graduation weekend. Enjoy the graduation parties…

With the Class of 2011 graduation from Waukesha public schools this Saturday ­– Catholic Memorial students graduated last month – Waukesha Patch had the opportunity to recognize some students who had faced extraordinary experiences and who came out a stronger person as a result. Their stories are inspiring and we here at Patch are looking forward to see what they will do in college and beyond. We want to thank the schools and the students for their work with us to share these uplifting stories. Obviously, there are many other great high school seniors who are graduating this year. Please …

For Waukesha South High School senior Drew Papez, sports have been an integral part of his life. While in high school, Papez has played basketball, golf, baseball and track along with his favorite — football. “I love football,” Papez said. “Ever since I was little, the goal was to play division one.” Papez was playing strong in football, excelling on the field and pushing his team forward. However, in his sophomore year, he found his dream of playing endangered after suffering a broken ankle in the first game of the year. The injury was so bad that Papez had reconstructive surgery the next …

When Waukesha North High School student Amanda Wozniak started her high school career, she encountered a life-altering event that changed her outlook on life. Wozniak was severely injured in a car accident and had her life saved by medical personnel who wouldn’t stop helping until they knew she was going to live. While she doesn’t remember most of the experience, Wozniak said the first time she looked at her face and the shards of glass embedded in it, she had changed her outlook on life.  “I was so thankful for the people who wouldn’t quit to save me, and I knew that if I was given a second …

Throughout his high school career, Waukesha West High School senior Nick Blais, 18, had to deal with all the regular stresses of the average teenager. But four months ago, he found himself in a precarious situation when his mom decided to move to California without him and leaving him suddenly homeless. Blais said he didn’t have a driver’s license, state ID, bank account or any other basic necessities an adult needs to function and he needed to fix the situation immediately. “At this point I really have no idea what’s in store for me next,” he said. “But I had to learn how to stand on my own …