When Northwestern Lehigh graduates threw their caps into the air June 6 to celebrate the completion of their mandatory education, they were already thinking about their future.

Those opting for college considered a variety of factors before making their final choice.

A number of students will begin the next phase of their lives at local community colleges.

Bailey and Jaedon Muhl and Trisha Nagle will all start their college education at Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schneckville.

"I don't know my major yet, so I definitely want to take my general education classes there," Nagle said. "I'm taking early childhood and interior design classes just to get a feel for both of them."

Kayla Clark wants to go to college for general studies in nursing and culinary.

"I got accepted to Northampton Community College and I start in the fall," she said. "It's close to where I'm going to be moving. It's a chance for me to go further with my education. I want to start off with a CNA certificate needed to work as a nurse's assistant and then see where I go from there."

Many other graduates have chosen to study in state.

Class salutatorian Kari Schulthies will attend Lafayette College.

"When I walked out to the campus I fell in love with it," she said. "I've always lived here for my entire life and Lafayette is still bigger than Northwestern."

"I want to take classes I really feel passionate about and I'm really excited to take some classes that are different, everything from the evolution of game theory to geology," said Schulthies. "I want to be an engineer because I like making stuff."

The University of Pittsburgh was a popular choice this year.

Daneen Haas said her decision to go there was "very easy. I got a full tuition scholarship there. I really like the campus and the program and the money was hard to pass up."

Haas was also accepted to the Stevens Institute of Technology, Rowan University and the University of Virginia.

Emily Wilk will also attend the University of Pittsburgh.

"I decided to major in psychology or have a double major in marketing," said Wilk who also considered WVU, George Mason, and IUP.

"I wanted to go to school in a city, but I also wanted to go to a green school and Pitt has both. My grandparents and my cousin live near there. He's like my best friend and I could see him more," Wilk said.

Cody Gangaware who is hoping to major in speech pathology said, "It was down to three schools" but ultimately, he chose Marywood University. "It best fit me," he said. "It's a small program but I could make the school as big as I want through sports and meeting new people."

Michaela Roberts is going to Penn State Berks.

"I didn't want to start at the main campus because it's just too big," she said. "Once I get the hang of college life, being in a big city will be easier."

She is leaning to a major in biology but she said she'll "narrow it down later."

Don Luke Winzer has decided to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

"It's going to be totally free," he said. "I was hoping to do a double major, maybe in film and media production. They've been really helpful and the honors college invited me to apply."

Winzer's grandfather has offered to pay for room and board which is a plus.

"I like it. Indiana is small and that suits me," he said.

Several graduates will be studying in the neighboring state of New Jersey.

Angela Motolese leaves on Aug. 5 for Farleigh Dickenson in Teaneck, N.J.

"I originally intended to go to the New Jersey Institute of Technology, but the coach [at Farleigh Dickenson] had a better program for my major which is business," she said. "They came to see me play and offered me scholarship money to play soccer."

Hunter Bartholomew will attend the Stevens Institute of Technology, his first choice.

"They're ranked 33 on return of investment and their job placement is 96 percent for those who are six months out of graduation," he said. "Since the school is right by New York City, there will be a lot of opportunities."

Bartholomew is looking forward to a change of setting.

"I'm going to be thrown into pretty large cities, Hoboken and NYC but I'm excited about pursuing a career in technology software engineering or development," he said.

Big city life is calling several graduates.

Kelsey White's decision was virtually set in stone long before she sent in her deposit.

"I've always known I was going [to New York] but I didn't commit until I heard about all the scholarships," she said. "The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising is located in the center of New York's garment district."

White is not alone.

Caitlyn Ziemniak will attend the Fashion Institute of Technology for advertising or product design.

"You have to take an internship every year at FIT," she said. "I'd like to stay in New York and work for a major company in their advertising department."

"I used to live right by Newark and I always visit [New York] so I'm used to it," she said. "I'm really excited."

Both Laura Kotula and Sarah Overstrum have selected Ohio State University.

"My dad is an alumnus. I've been there so many times," said Overstrum.

While she is undecided about a major, Overstrum is thinking about going into international security or Homeland security.

"I want to be an analyst involved in anti-terrorism," she said.

Kotula wants to make films.

A few graduates have decided to head south.

Jeff Garbacik will be attending Georgia Tech.

"Atlanta is a pretty big city but there's a lot of green space so it doesn't feel like a city school," he said. "It's a great engineering school and I have some family down there."

As her family is moving to Florida, Cidney Bachert said she looked at three schools, all in the state but ultimately decided on the University of Central Florida.

"It's in the city of Orlando and I needed to be in the city," she said. "I liked that it's a bigger school because I wanted to meet more people.

"I'm not just going to a science school or a liberal arts school. I wanted more options."

Some graduates are planning on less traditional alternatives to college.

Dylan Wagner is already working full time at Wetzel Enterprises, Macungie, as an electrician.

"I got the job through LCTI and it has good pay and good hours. I've been working there for the past year," he explained. "That's what I went to tech to do. I go to homes, companies, schools, depending on what needs to be done. I usually ride with another guy."

Eventually, Wagner wants to be a lineman but that requires completion of a three-month course for linemen, workers who climb poles.

They start at $30 an hour."

Two graduates have been fortunate enough to be accepted to Ivy League schools.

Emily Tentarelli will attend Cornell University.

Alessandro Consuelos will attend the University of Pennsylvania.