This year the Star of the North Secondary Schools graduated 70 students from its two campuses — the North Pole Academy and the Career Education Center. Its graduation was held at 7 p.m. Friday at the Hering Auditorium.

The following students graduated:

Mitchell Patrick Arvin

Bradley Denison

FAIRBANKS — A new pilot program at Ticasuk Brown Elementary School could offer a glimpse into the potential benefits of large-scale wood-pellet heating systems.

A recently approved $550,000 state grant will fund the installation of a pellet-fueled boiler at the school, which is located off Badger Road between Fairbanks and North Pole. Supporters hope the project will provide another possibility for weaning local schools off of expensive fuel oil.

Rep. Tammie Wilson, R-North Pole, worked to include the funds in the state’s capital budget, which was signed Tuesday by Gov. Sean Parnell. Wilson said she’s encouraged by the performance of wood-chip boilers at schools in Tok and Delta and believes a similar system could succeed in Fairbanks-area schools. Manufactured pellets create less particulate pollution than firewood and are less expensive than fuel oil.

The self-feeding boiler planned at Ticasuk Brown will burn a steady supply of manufactured wood pellets, which will be used as the primary heat source at the school. The pellet boiler won’t replace the oil-fired boiler, which will remain in place to maintain redundancy in the system.

Ben Eielson High School graduated 51 of its seniors on Wednesday evening at its gymnasium. The class of 2012 valedictorian was Jacob Ezell, and the salutatorian was Sarah Patterson.

The following students graduated:

Ana Christina Aguilera

Jordan Marie Aman

Hutchison High School seniors walked the stage at the Hering Auditorium on Tuesday evening. The school graduated 67 students, including valedictorian Sky Roehl and salutatorian Kyle Milke.

The following students graduated:

Sheldon Michael Adams

Holden William Bettis