A couple Boothbay/Wiscasset Adult Education graduates learned a last-minute lesson Oct. 23 prior to receiving their diplomas. Colin Mettle, 24, of West Boothbay Harbor and Peter Young, 22, of Boothbay received instructions on tassel placement on their mortarboards. An audience member searched her iPhone for directions and instructed the tassel is placed on their right and moved left afterwards.

Mettle dropped out of high school in his senior year and entered the workforce. He now rebuilds industrial-sized engines and wants a career in mechanics. "I needed to graduate so I could attend college with hopes of a career in precision mechanics," he said. Mettle is looking at attending Southern Maine Community College in South Portland or Central Maine Community College in Auburn. He finished his coursework this summer.

Young works at JNA Carpentry in Boothbay Harbor. He left high school during his senior year in 2022. "I regretted not finishing but I had to support myself and found an apartment," he said. Young plans on attending college to study computer science. Young finished his coursework earlier this month.

The graduation ceremony was held at Barrett's Park in Boothbay Harbor.