Tombstone High School will graduate 79 seniors and one junior on May 22. The ceremony will take place on the high school’s football field.
During the event senior class presidents, Jacob Huston and Michelle Thursby, will give welcome speeches. Valedictorian Alicia Allen and Salutatorian Casey Harris will also give speeches to fellow graduates.
After the ceremony the school will host a “Project Graduation” event where graduates can participate in games and hang out with friends and instructors.
While Project Graduation is hosted at the high school, the event is entirely parent run. Throughout the year parents have raised money to purchase prizes and supplies for the alcohol and drug-fee event. According to Kathy Lopez, executive assistant at the school, prizes from previous years have included appliances, scientific calculators, gift cards, school supplies and housing supplies.
“Whether the student is going into the military, the dorms or living off campus, there is something for everyone,” Lopez said.
This is the first year the ceremony will be held on the football field. In previous years the ceremony occurred on the exterior basketball courts, but the school needed to rent lighting and sound equipment. Now that the football field is ready the equipment is already there and it’s convenient, Lopez said.
Seating for graduation is first come first serve. Graduates are required to arrive at 5:30 p.m. According to Lopez many people show up at that time. However, there will be ground seating available and each student will be given 10 tickets to give for ground seating. The ceremony begins at 7p.m.