Schools prepare for graduations

FAYETTEVILLE — More than 4,000 seniors from nine high schools will don caps and gowns at graduation ceremonies in Bud Walton Arena and Barnhill Arena over the next three days.

Traffic is bound to slow around the University of Arkansas campus. Parking lots will fill up with graduation celebrants and fans attending state high school championship games.

Especially Saturday, graduations are back-to-back and some are scheduled concurrently at the arenas. Bentonville’s ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to wrap up at 11 a.m., two hours before ceremonies for Springdale High School and Siloam Springs start at 1 p.m.

Capt. Gary Crain, university police spokesman, suggests allowing plenty of time for parking and walking to the arenas.

“Traffic will be slow moving just due to the number of people arriving and leaving at the same time,” Crain said.

But there’s more to graduation day than just getting to the ceremony on time. There’s planning for the ceremony, costs for schools and parents, and parties for a safe celebration.

SETTING THE DATE

The larger high schools follow an annual pattern for graduation ceremonies, with Fayetteville students graduating Thursday, Rogers and Rogers Heritage students going next on Friday and wrapping up with commencements for Bentonville, Springdale and Har-Ber on Saturday.

Graduations on the UA campus f it between the university commencement and activities at the annual Walmart Shareholders’ meeting June 3.

Fayetteville High School prefers the Thursday slot because of an all-night Project Graduation party that follows the ceremony, said Alan Wilbourn, Fayetteville spokesman. The idea is it’s safer for students driving on a Friday morning, as opposed to a Saturday or Sunday.

Friday graduations for Rogers High School go back to at least 1972, with Gates Stadium the venue for many years, said Ashley Siwiec, spokeswoman. The Rogers ceremony moved to the university in 1997, first at Barnhill and then in 2004 to Bud Walton.

Rogers Heritage had its first graduating class in 2009 and has to share Friday with Rogers High School, said Darla Tomasko, an assistant principal at Rogers Heritage.

The back-to-back commencements mean staffs of both schools assist with preparations and cleanup, Tomasko said.

Springdale High and Har-Ber have had graduations at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena since 2007, said Rick Schaeffer, school district spokesman. The two schools alternate times with Springdale High School getting the earlier time slot this year.

Bentonville spokesman Paul Stolt doesn’t know how the Saturday morning tradition of graduation started. The early time slot on Saturday gives students a full day for celebrating the milestone with family and friends.

PUTTING ON A SHOW

Graduation ceremonies retain some traditions: the processional, the Pledge of Allegiance, speakers and the presentation of graduates, said Kevin Snavely, vice principal for Siloam Springs High School. Planning involves teams of staff members from a group of nine at Siloam Springs to more than 50 at Rogers High School.

Ceremonies draw large crowds. Bentonville officials ordered 6,000 programs, while Siloam Springs and Rogers each ordered 4,000, school officials said. West Fork, Springdale and Har-Ber each ordered 1,500 programs.

The larger high schools plan to spend $7,000 to $13,000, including the $6,000 Bud Walton Arena rental fee, officials said. However, Bentonville last year spent $43,756 on graduation, Stolt said.

The number of students graduating varies: 85 from West Fork and 280 from Siloam Springs. The range is 450 to 650 for Fayetteville, Springdale, Har-Ber, Rogers and Heritage. Bentonville this year has 977 seniors graduating, with 965 students participating in commencement.

West Fork and Bentonville name one valedictorian, while other schools recognize top students in other ways. Springdale High School names any student with a 4.0 grade point average a valedictorian, with 25 in this year’s graduating class. The Rogers schools developed a series of rankings: students graduating with distinguished honors, high honors and honors.

Bentonville names students graduating with honors and high honors based on grades and the number of Advanced Placement classes taken, Stolt said.

Caps and gowns for students cost $20 to $40, school officials said.

AFTER THE CEREMONY

Several high schools organize parties for graduates following the formal ceremony.

Rogers Heritage graduates will spend Friday night at Fast Lane Entertainment in Lowell, Tomasko said.

West Fork Project Graduation is set for the Fayetteville Boys & Girls Club, an event that will include games, pizza and chances to win cash and prizes, Principal John Crowder said. It’s one final moment for the students to be together as the Class of 2016.

Students also earn millions in scholarships. This year’s totals include $5.7 million for Siloam Springs graduates, $12.8 million for Fayetteville and $16.5 million for both Springdale and Har-Ber, school officials said.

Brenda Bernet can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWABrenda.