Honoring top-notch students from class of 2016

High school graduations are progressing around the region, sending off this year's seniors to the next steps in their lives.

The Dayton Daily News collected information about the region's graduates, their journeys and their successes to help celebrate their achievements.

Graduate spotlight

Miami Valley high schools are honoring their top students in the Class of 2016 as valedictorians and salutatorians. Here’s a sampling of 10 valedictorians from around the region — students headed to schools such as Duke, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

We asked all local high schools for information on their valedictorians and salutatorians. Biographies and photos of all honored graduates we received will publish later this week on MyDaytonDailyNews.com

So you're graduating. What have you seen?

St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire broke baseball's single-season home run record 18 years ago, around the time most of this year's graduates were born.

What else have they seen?

Every student has a story

Some, like new Dayton Public Schools graduates Megan Brinker and Samia Dudley, are an inspiration for those aiming to make the very most of their opportunities.

When are the graduations?

Here's a list of graduation ceremony dates for dozens of schools in the region.

Area wants many to stay

The Dayton STEM-Workforce Program works to expose students to local opportunities. As one official put it, "A lot of kids want to get out (of Dayton), because they don't know what's here. So we're trying to show them what's here."

Speaking of the future ...

Many schools participated in a "signing day" event this month to celebrate the future plans of their graduates and encourage younger students to plan for their own post-graduation paths.