The cold, gray concrete of the Cumberland County Civic Center was lit up Sunday with Windham’s awestruck and eager graduating Class of 2007, along with a crowd of proud parents and the occasional bored younger sibling.

While those younger siblings still have years of thick textbooks and No. 2 pencils ahead of them, Windham High School’s senior class ended their public education journey this week with the flip of a tassel.

“It’s really weird, it came really fast,” said graduate Katie Eastman, 17, of Windham. She said she doesn’t expect the totality of the situation to sink in for a few days.

Adele Carey, mother of 17-year-old graduate Eoin Sinclair, was sitting in the front row of the stadium seating, dead-center in front of the stage.

“He’s ready to graduate, but he said he’s going to miss his friends,” she said of her son. Also sitting with her was her husband Arnie Yasinski and ex-husband Louis Sinclair. They said Eoin is planning to take a year off to work on his music before going to college. He plans to release his own album.

“He’s interested in so many things musically,” his father Louis said. Eoin Sinclair lives in Windham with his father and his mother and her husband live in Rhode Island. They said he has been making music since he was 5 years old.

In the very back row in section X, John Drew watched his stepson Stephen Odum graduate.

“He’s excited,” said Drew, arms crossed and chair leaned back.

Windham Superintendent Sandy Prince gave the assembled crowd a chance to applaud the capped-and-gowned students from Windham and Raymond.

“Let’s give the people a big hand,” he said. He told the crowd that he’s attended a lot of graduation ceremonies over the years “and I’ve enjoyed every one of them.”

He admitted that he has daydreamed during a few and told the audience he understands if they drift off a little too.

Guest speaker Diane Leavitt, who teaches the popular business simulation class, said the Class of 2007 has taught her a thing or two, such as how important it can be sometimes to “just chill.”

“This has helped tame the Irish in me,” she said.

Salutatorian Amanda Hammett, who is headed to Bard College in New York’s Hudson Valley, half-spoke, half-sang her speech. She waxed about the different paths each person will take in life and ended with a spirited rendition of Hey Jude.

Class President Ciaran Shaughnessy spoke the final speech before 210 caps were thrown in the air.

“I’d like to thank anyone who has given anything for this class,” he said.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said graduate Ben Worster, 17, of being done with high school for good. He is going to attend University of Southern Maine in the fall and plans to become a history teacher.

Valedictorian Nathan Gardner was calm behind the podium and throughout the ceremony. He is headed to Boston University to study astrophysics.

“I’m taking things as they come,” he said. “Now I need to find a job for the summer.”

Windham07grad01: Graduate Eoin Sinclair shakes hands with Tony Ennis, next years senior class president at Windham High School.Windham07grad02: Guest Speaker and Windham High School teacher weaves through the marching lines at Sunday’s graduation in the Cumberland County Civic Center. Windham07grad03: Amanda Hammett sings “Hey Jude” at the close of her Salutatorian speech during Sunday’s Windham High School graduation in the Cumberland County Civic Center. Windham07grad04: Alisha Timmons shakes hands with school board chairwoman Kate Brix during Sunday’s Windham High School graduation in the Cumberland County Civic Center. Windham07grad06-07: A large crowd of family and friends witnessed the graduation ceremony of the 2007 senior class of Windham High School in the Cumberland County Civic Center on Sunday.Windham07grad06-07: A large crowd of family and friends witnessed the graduation ceremony of the 2007 senior class of Windham High School in the Cumberland County Civic Center on Sunday.