Class of 2008 prepares to graduate Friday night-

A Warren County High School senior class packed with 420 graduates is set to walk across the stage and receive their high school diplomas Friday night at Nunley Stadium.

As is always the case with an outdoor ceremony, attention is focused on the weather. At press time last night, the forecast for Friday calls for scattered showers, but the rain is expected to move out by the afternoon.

Barring rain, the graduation ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Students should be at McMinnville Civic Center in their caps and gowns at 5:30 p.m. to load buses to ride to Nunley Stadium. This is done due to parking limitations. Lineup on the track begins at 6 p.m. Seniors are required to ride a bus to the stadium, although they are not required to ride a bus back.

Graduates are encouraged to dress appropriately. Boys are asked to wear slacks and a nice shirt, while girls are asked to wear dresses.

‘It’s a semi-formal occasion and we’d like them to look nice,’ said senior guidance counselor Keri McGiboney.

The ceremony itself will feature speeches from valedictorian Jackson Ewton, salutatorian Amy Hutton, student body president Taylor Nunley and senior class president Katrina Allen. There will also be student entertainment.

Immediately following the ceremony, students can pick up their diplomas under the scoreboard.

In the event of rain, graduation will still be held at Nunley Stadium. The first make-up time is Saturday at 5 p.m. If that is rained out, the third time is Monday at 6 p.m. School officials are against moving graduation indoors because there isn’t a local facility capable of supporting such a large crowd.

‘If we were to move it to the Civic Center, you get into a situation where you have to issue tickets,’ said McGiboney. ‘Then some graduates would have family members who couldn’t attend and that’s something we don’t want to happen.’

Regardless of weather, Project Graduation will take place Friday night beginning at 10 p.m. at the Civic Center.