INUVIK - Grade 12 students at Samuel Hearne are buzzing about this weekend, the end of a long journey.

This year's graduation ceremony is set to take place at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Tanya Snowshoe and Chad Larocque are two of the 40 students eligible to graduate from Samuel Hearne this year. Both students said they are ready for the ceremony this Saturday. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"It's been a great year, we have 40 students walking across the stage," said grad sponsor teacher Angela Young.

Students have been decorating the community room to a theme designed by Sheree McLeod.

"Originally we were going to pick a theme from a catalogue, but we're going with Sheree's idea," said Young.

The details of the design are being kept a secret until the big day.

Earlier this week, the group met to decide their walking songs and to finalize the plans for the ceremony.

Chad Larocque is one of the students who is donning a cap and gown this weekend.

Larocque said he is excited to be done with high school.

"I'm looking at flight school after graduation," he said.

Of course, an important part of any graduation ceremony is being dressed for the event.

Larocque knows that and had his suit picked out from a recent trip to Edmonton.

"It's a striped black and charcoal tux," he said.

Fellow student Tanya Snowshoe said she is also prepared for the event.

"I got my dress picked out in May," she said. "I took a week for the trip."

Snowshoe said she is feeling nervous about the ceremony, but knows that it is a crowning achievement after her years of schooling.

She also has another role during the ceremony. She is one of the students giving a welcoming address in another language.

"I'm doing a short speech in Gwich'in," she said.

"It's kind of hard, but I know a bit of the language."

She added the event should be a good time for everyone involved.

"I'm excited," she said.