The school year just become one day shorter… for seniors, at least.
The Highland class of 2026 will be walking across the stage one day earlier than planned, with officials moving the graduation ceremony to May 28 due to a mix-up with the district and scheduling.
“We were informed by the people that we work with, Jostens, that they were told that Granite School District had the Huntsman center booked for Friday, and we always have it [booked for] Friday,” Highland principal Jeremy Chatterton said. “Talking to the district, they assumed that we had it Friday too, [but] Utah came back and said we didn’t have it Friday, but Thursday was available.”
Because of the error, Chatterton spent time looking at other location options for graduation to stay on Friday. He explored booking the Delta Center, but with construction going on this summer at the arena, it wasn’t an option. Due to the limited venues available for large-scale ceremonies, and the preference to stay in Salt Lake City, the Huntsman Center was the best option.
Thursday it was. And one less day that seniors have to attend in May.
Along with the new date, graduation will also start an hour earlier. Previously, the Salt Lake School District graduations (Highland, East, and West) were held in succession at 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm. Due to conflicts with the PTA graduation party, these graduations have been moved up to noon, 3 pm, and 6 pm, which allows for more time to clean up afterwards and more time for the party. With the new time and day, the district made sure to announce the news.
“I don’t really care [about the new date], but now we really don’t have to come back on Friday,” Mikelle Chatterton, a senior at Highland, said. “I was thinking that my friends and I were going to sit in the parking lot for the last bell, but there’s like a negative chance of that happening.”
Highland graduation will proceed with the traditions that make Highland unique. It is always a special moment when the Highland choir performs the national anthem and a medley of songs. Seniors may audition to perform at this once-in-a-lifetime event, so anticipate a spectacular performance from peers. Spectators can count on the student body officers participating and the senior class president delivering a celebratory message. Look forward to Chatterton’s reflections commemorating this graduating class.
