Area high schools, seniors gear up for May graduation ceremonies

SIKESTON -- Upkeep of the Sikeston Field House takes place year-round, but in the coming weeks, the district's maintenance department will take on smaller projects to prepare for the biggest night in a high school student's life -- graduation.

"We will check out the air conditioning units and do some touch-up painting," said Mike Brown, Sikeston R-6 director of building and grounds. "We'll be policing the grounds and making sure we've mowed well right before time of graduation.

"Any repairs we see will need to be made, and we'll deal with (stage) curtain issues and placement of chairs," he said.

Typically preparation work will start a couple of weeks before graduation, Brown said. Districtwide, employees will work on the lighting, the sound system, cameras and other technology to ensure everything is set up properly for the big night.

About 215 seniors will graduate from Sikeston Senior High School and New Horizons School during a 7 p.m. ceremony May 22 at the Sikeston Field House.

Tickets are required for admission, and doors will open at 6 p.m. Class speakers will be announced at the senior honors banquet set for 6:30 p.m. May 14. Valedictorian and salutatorian will be revealed graduation night. Other local high schools are also busy preparing for graduation night.

Seventy-seven students are expected to graduate from Kelly High School in Benton during a 7 p.m. ceremony May 15 in the high school gymnasium. Valedictorian and salutatorian won't be known until after May 11.

A ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. May 17 on the Vic Reaves Athletic Football Field for the 51 graduates of Portageville High School. In case of inclement weather, graduation will be in the high school gymnasium.

Scott County Central High School will conduct its commencement at 7 p.m. May 18 in the Ronnie Cookson Gymnasium. Twenty-one students are expected to receive their diplomas. Leading the class will be valedictorian Jamie Dollins and salutatorian Krista Renfroe.

Students at Richland High School in Essex will graduate during an 8 p.m. ceremony May 18 in the high school gym. Valedictorian and salutatorian of the 35-member class have not yet been determined.

Twenty-five students will graduate from Oran High School during a 2 p.m. ceremony May 20 in the high school gym. Class valedictorian and salutatorian are unknown at this time.

New Madrid County Central High School's class of 2007 will consist of about 95 graduates. The commencement will begin at 6:30 p.m. May 22 in the high school gymnasium. The class' top academic leaders have not yet been named.

Fifty-nine East Prairie High School students will receive diplomas during the 7 p.m. graduation May 18 in the high school gym.

"Right now we know we will have co-valedictorians -- and we could have three," principal Steve Douglas said. "But that could change with these final exams. We'll know after May 10."

Charleston High School will conduct its graduation at 8 p.m. May 22 in the high school gym with 58 seniors expected to graduate. Salutatorian and valedictorian have also not been determined.