For seniors at Lowville Central, graduation meant the end to a long journey.

"It means, a new beginning, you know? We made it this far, had a lot of struggles, but, from this point on we're adults," said Alex Jackson, Class of 2012.

"It's a milestone. I worked for, I worked hard. Stuff I wanted to do," added fellow graduate Jordan Tuttle.

But this year's ceremony wasn't about just saying goodbye to seniors. It was also a chance for the community to say farewell to Ken McAuliffe, who is stepping down after 32 years in the district. He spent the last 11 as superintendent.

For McAuliffe, the last three decades have flown by.

"It's gone by very quickly, just many ways, it seems impossible that time could have gone by that quickly," he said.

In between hugs and group photos, graduating seniors took time to tell 7 News what McAuliffe has meant to the school:

"You see him in the hallway and he knows your name. Not many schools are fortunate enough to say that. That that man was more than just a superintendent, he was a person who knew your name and knew you individually," said Kyle Logan.

Although this ceremony was the last for McAuliffe, he is going to stay on at the school through the summer since the search for his replacement has been tougher than expected.

The school expects to name an interim superintendent next month with the hope of hiring a permament replacement sometime next year.

"Hoping to have somebody here at Christmas, or the first of the year, would be their goal," McAuliffe explained.

So graduation day is not the official last day - that'll come in August. But once that day arrives, McAuliffe plans to enjoy his family and to vacation a little.

And much like the graduating seniors here at Lowville, he's looking for to the future.