Lopez Island School District officials have announced the list of colleges and universities to which the class of 2008 graduates have been accepted.

The seniors graduate on June 7 in a traditional Saturday afternoon ceremony. This year’s graduates have been accepted to an alphabet soup of colleges around the country. The list includes:

Albertson College of Idaho, Bellingham Technical College, Big Bend Community College, Brown University, Central Washington University, Centralia Community College, Deep Springs College, Eastern Washington University, George Fox University, Harvard College, Humboldt State University, MIT, Multnomah College, Northwest Lineman College, Oberlin College, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Skagit Valley College, Swarthmore College, University of Washington, Vassar College, Whitman College, Warner Pacific College, Western Washington University, Wesleyan University, Western Oregon University, Whitworth University, Willamette University, Whatcom Community College, and Western Arizona Community College.

Approximately 95 percent of the graduates will be going on to college, university, or other post-secondary education in the fall, with a few students electing to defer a year before beginning at colleges and universities to which they have been accepted.

“We are proud of our students and of the school system that has provided such a solid educational experience to these graduates,” said Principal Roland MacNichol.

Lopez will graduate approximately 98 percent of its seniors, a number substantially above the state average of approximately 70 percent. The above average graduation and post-secondary attendance rates are consistent with historical trends in the district and helped earn the district a Bronze Recognition this fall as one of the country’s top high schools in U.S. News and World Report’s national ranking and recognition program.

“It just goes to show what you can accomplish with a powerful staff, dedicated principal, and amazing community support,” said Superintendent Bill Evans. “The descriptors of small and rural don’t have to have a negative connotation when talking about schools – Lopez is proof of that,” Evans stated.