COAL GROVE — The Dawson-Bryant gymnasium looked as if a rainbow exploded inside as students wearing gowns of red, green, white and every color in between gathered Thursday to be recognized for their achievement of completing their studies at Collins Career Center Thursday.

While each student will attend official graduation ceremonies at their home schools, Collins superintendent Steve Dodgion said it is important for them to receive notice for going above and beyond.

“We have an 84 percent placement rate,” Dodgion said. “These kids are going somewhere, whether it’s to the military, to college or employment.”

Dodgion said students at Collins are treated as adults who are preparing for jobs, and that treatment helps make them better students and gets them ready for the world after high school.

For Kara Clark, a Fairland student who studied early childhood education at Collins, the world after high school involves furthering her education. Clark said she plans to attend Ohio University Southern, major in early childhood education and become a teacher.

“My experience at Collins was awesome,” Clark said. “Our teachers are awesome and the staff is great. It’s also awesome because when you come in your junior year you meet so many new people from other schools so it’s a whole new chance to make friends.”

Collins also provided her the chance to further herself in more ways than just education, Clark said. She said she was thankful for the chance to go to a state Family, Career and Community Leaders of America conference where she received gold.

The Class of 2013 consisted of 250 students from eight school districts.