Phoenix Union Commencement Exercises are a Non-stop Celebration

Over 4,800 students from 15 schools will graduate during 26 hours of commencement exercises in front of 60,000 family members and friends on Phoenix Union High School District’s graduation days, May 23-24.

It is the third year all 11 large schools will hold graduation at one venue- the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, beginning with Cesar Chavez High School at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 23, and ending with Betty Fairfax High School in the final ceremony at 8:30 p.m., Thursday, May 24. Four small schools will have graduations at other venues, beginning with Bioscience High School at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday at the Herberger Theatre.

The Coliseum ceremonies begin every 2 ½ hours, spanning 12 hours on Wednesday and 14 hours on Thursday. Schools have 90 minutes to march in, give speeches, hand out diplomas and march out of the building. As one student body is crossing the stage, another school is lining up in an adjacent exhibit hall. To avoid a collision course, the parking, arena entrance and exits and staging areas per school alternate on the north and south sides of the Coliseum. Gates open for guests a half-hour prior to each ceremony, allowing approximately 30 minutes for set-up and a cleaning crew to get ready for the next show. Some schools draw upwards of 9,000 attendees. There is no guest limit per student, and tickets are not required.

The large schools will take over the Coliseum with five ceremonies on Wednesday, and six more on Thursday. The graduation ceremony schedule for Wednesday, May 23 is: Cesar Chavez, 10:30 a.m.; Maryvale, 1 p.m.; Alhambra, 3:30 p.m.; Trevor Browne, 6 p.m. and Carl Hayden, 8:30 p.m. On Thursday, May 24, the line-up is.; Metro Tech, 8 a.m.; Central, 10:30 a.m.; Camelback, 1 p.m.; North, 3:30 p.m.; South Mountain, 6 p.m., and Betty Fairfax, 8:30 p.m.

Both Bioscience and Franklin Police and Fire High School will utilize the Herberger Theatre for the second year, with Franklin following Bioscience, Wednesday at 6 p.m. Both schools will have graduating classes of 51 students. Franklin, the small school that specializes in public safety career training such as law enforcement, firefighting and emergency medical services almost doubled last year’s first senior class of 26 students. Small schools Suns-Diamondbacks Education Academy and Bostrom will utilize other District high school auditoriums for commencement exercises. Suns-Diamondbacks’ ceremony is at Central High Auditorium, Wednesday evening, and Bostrom holds its graduation ceremony at Trevor Browne High School, Thursday evening.

Phoenix Union Graduations: Wednesday, May 23 @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Cesar Chavez High School, 10:30 a.m., Valedictorian: Liliana Espinoza Ornelas; Salutatorian: Reena Villariz. Estimated graduating class: 441

Maryvale High School, 1 p.m., Valedictorian: Reyna Rivera; Salutatorian: Nicole Mosqueira. Estimated graduating class: 500

Alhambra High School, 3:30 p.m., Valedictorian: Diane Arce; Salutatorian: Alexa Parra Cabrera. Estimated graduating class: 498

Trevor G. Browne High School, 6 p.m., Valedictorian: Joseth Hermosillo; Salutatorian: Rafael Nunez. Estimated graduating class: 450

Carl Hayden Community High School, 8:30 p.m., Valedictorian: Miguel Santoyo; Salutatorian: Edwin Avalos Goday. Estimated graduating class: 450

Phoenix Union Graduations: Thursday, May 24 @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Metro Tech High School, 8 a.m., Valedictorian: Danh Vu; Salutatorian: Rebeca Gutierrez Estimated graduating class: 287

Central High School, 10:30 a.m., Valedictorian: Luz Elena Lopez; Salutatorian: Michael Geraldo. Estimated graduating class: 423

Camelback High School, 1 p.m., Valedictorian: Jazmine Tamayo; Salutatorian: Dulce Ponti. Estimated graduating class: 300

North High School, 3:30 p.m., Valedictorian: Farzana Abjulla; Salutatorian: Richa Nathaniel. Estimated graduating class: 510

South Mountain High School, 6 p.m., Valedictorian: Lorena Pina Nunez; Salutatorian: Kartia Nash. Estimated graduating class: 340

Betty Fairfax High School, 8:30 p.m., Valedictorian: Marisol Avitia; Salutatorian: James Edward Farmer II. Estimated graduating class: 355

Phoenix Union Small Schools Graduations: Wednesday, May 23

Bioscience High School, 4:30 p.m. at Herberger Theatre, 222 E. Monroe Street. Valedictorian: Nehal Jolly; Salutatorian: Aldin Malkoc. Estimated graduating class: 51

Franklin Police and Fire High School, 6 p.m. at Herberger Theatre, 222 E. Monroe Street. Valedictorian: Maria G. Chavez; Salutatorian: Denise Olivas. Estimated graduating class: 51

Suns-Diamondbacks Education Academy, 7 p.m. at Central High School Auditorium, 4525 N. Central Ave., Valedictorian: Daniel Cervantes; Salutatorian: Jose Ordonez. Estimated graduating class: 64

Phoenix Union Small Schools Graduations: Thursday, May 24

Bostrom High School, 6 p.m. at Trevor Browne High School Auditorium, 7402 W. Catalina Drive. Valedictorian: Edward Leyvas; Salutatorian: Natasha Mazon. Estimated graduating class: 84

Source: Phoenix Union High School District

PHOENIX UNION JOINS SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM FOR 31st YEAR

For the 31st summer, the Phoenix Union High School District, along with other agencies, will provide breakfast and lunch for needy children 18 years of age and younger at 12 high schools, Monday through Friday, May 29 – June 27

Funded through the U.S. Department of Education food and nutrition programs, the Summer Food Program has, for over three decades, prepared and served more than 3 million meals at as many as 60 sites throughout Phoenix. Summer lunches are an extension of the National School Lunch Program.

Meals are prepared at PUHSD’s various high school campuses, listed below, serving thousands of meals per day. New foodstuffs are purchased at the beginning of the program to support the nutritional needs of children in impoverished areas. Food left over at the end of the program, like that at the end of the school year, is donated to local food banks for distribution.

Meals will be made available to all children 18 years of age and under within the approved geographical area without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital or family status.

Meals will be served at the following PUHSD campus: Central High School--4525 N Central Avenue;

This campus will be hosting Summer School. Food will be prepared, as it is during the regular school year, at each location in the school cafeteria. Participating community members will be directed to the designated areas of each campus.

Breakfast will be served from 7:30 A.M. until 8:30 A.M., with lunch being served from 10:45 A.M. until 12:45 P.M. Adults are welcome to accompany children and can purchase breakfast for $2 and lunch for $3.

Source: Phoenix Union High School District