PHILOMATH - The 136 members of the 2008 graduating class of Philomath High School had many things on their mind: concentrating on their final moments as seniors, fixing their hair just so under those awkward mortarboards and keeping track of unruly tassels.

For faculty, it was all about getting students to line up one last time and monitoring their footwear.

"I wasn't kidding about the shoes," said Principal Kent Sherwood moments before sending the class of 2008 out onto Clemens Field for the ceremony. "There's about 15 parents who would be there to tackle you."

The school's tradition of giving graduates a victory lap around the football field spawned a ban on heels in order to protect the new running track, a brand-new $135,000 Atlas surface paid for largely by parent donations.

For students, leaving the heels at home didn't seem to be much of a burden.

"I don't think I'd wear them anyway," said Erika Woosley, who wore green flip-flops and was inseparable from friend Tashina Green, who sported hot pink Crocs.

This year's graduates included an extraordinary number of Eagle Scouts. Of the 120-member class, 10 earned the award.

Most wore their Eagle badges pinned to their robes.

Two of them, Ky Fisher and Jon Erickson, explained that the group of Scouts was to present the flag before the ceremony.

Fisher said he had plans to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg for a year before leaving on a Mormon mission, while Erickson had just six weeks left in town before he jumped right into a summer term at BYU in Provo, Utah.

"I have a cousin going up there, so I decided why not?" he said.

Elizabeth Leahy and Jenna Borowski carried huge sunflowers through the ceremony, gifts from three best friends in the junior class.

The two have plans to study psychology, one at the University of Oregon and the other at the University of California-Santa Cruz.

"Same program, but very far from each other," Borowski said.

"Sadly," said Leahy.

Matt Neznanski can be reached at 758-9518 or matt.neznanski@lee.net.