Visitors hoping to attend this year’s graduation ceremony and those in the future will be required to have a ticket for entrance into the event due to priority and capacity purposes.
“We want to make sure we’re prioritizing access for family members and friends,” SHS principal Amy Boone said.
With graduate classes increasing year by year, the district had a request for both high schools, Perry Meridian and SHS, to have a ticket policy, to control and maintain occupancy in the Fieldhouse.
With this policy, each senior will receive eight tickets during graduation practice. Once received, seniors can distribute the tickets to whoever they’d like.
If needed, additional tickets may be requested via a form the administration will send out at a later date. This form will allow for six extra tickets.
In previous years, SHS graduation ceremonies were open to the public. Anyone could come in and watch students walk across the stage. Tickets were only required for those with handicap limitations.
However, it is now required that everyone in attendance has a ticket to ensure enough room for family and friends of priority
“While we love having the opportunity for anyone to come, we need to make sure and guarantee that there were good spaces for families to attend,” Boone said
With the policy to take into account occupancy, some students agree with the new policy.
“I feel like eight (tickets) is pretty generous,” senior Logan Goff said. “They will be able to fit most people in.”
Others feel the policy is too restrictive.
“Limiting the amount of people that have the privilege to come see you graduate…I think that is a little excessive,” senior Daniel Martinez said.
Despite concerns and first-time unanticipation over the new policy, graduation is expected to be, as planned, a ceremony to recognize graduates for their academic achievements.
“As soon as the graduates start walking in, and the crowd stand(s) up and just start(s) cheering, I look forward to that moment,” Boone said.
Graduation is scheduled for May 29, and it will start at 7 p.m. Doors for guests will open at 5:30 p.m., and guests must enter through Doors 3, 4 and 9.
