WATERLOO - Mercedes McPike had a mile-wide smile on her face Friday afternoon.

She stood behind a table with the Dr. Seuss book, "Oh, the places you'll go" open in front of her. Her closest friends and people she didn't even know signed the entry page. She greeted everyone with that big smile and recited her intentions for the future for all who asked.

McPike is a planner and this spring marks the jumping off point for Phase 2. The 17-year-old graduates from East High School this year, a full year ahead of schedule. She will start classes at Hawkeye Community College June 1. And from now on, she's on her own. McPike has been in foster care the last 2 1/2 years.

She's confident about her school plans, but leaving the foster-care system and finding her own place this summer is a little daunting.

"I've been planning ever since I was in ninth grade; I wanted to get going," McPike said. "Mostly I'm just nervous about me being on my own by myself."

McPike was one of nine foster-care students having a joint graduation party at Hawkeye Community College Friday. Cedar Valley's Promise mentoring task team organized the party for students who otherwise would likely have gone without. For those in the foster-care program, graduation usually also means they're leaving the system for life on their own.

"They're going through such a big change," said Nicole Foelske of Cedar Valley's Promise. "Most kids are getting out of high school and into college and they still have that family support."

Kathy Berns, a transition planning specialist for the Iowa Department of Human Services, said the idea of the party was spurred by an incident last year. A high school graduate who had turned 18 and thus "aged-out" of the foster-care system didn't have a party because his foster family couldn't afford it.

The department hopes to make the party an annual event, Berns said.

Dave Juon headed up a fundraising effort at John Deere, where a day was held for employees to make a donation and wear jeans to work. The effort raised $2,200 for the party.

Other party sponsors include the Department of Human Services, Elevate, Hawkeye Community College, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the University of Northern Iowa and three Cedar Valley's Promise groups (the Community Partnership for Protecting Children, the Dream Squad Advisory and the Mentoring Task Team).

Alfreda Martin, another of the graduates, isn't certain what her future holds, but she relished the party.

"I had lots of friends show up," she said. "I was afraid no one would come and support me."

Pashion Mure, like McPike, has a plan in place. She also will go to HCC and hopes to transfer to Wartburg College in two years.

"It feels good to know, with all the things I've struggled with in my life, I was just able to do it," Mure said.