GRADUATION, HOKNORS CEREMONIES SLATED FOR AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

Flowers are not the only things springing up in May.

A rainbow of graduation gowns, cords and mortarboards will be seen this month when nearly 2,000 graduating seniors in the area are scheduled to receive their diplomas.

Vernon Huck, Jackson High School principal, said his school has a series of events planned for seniors beginning Friday with an all-night party. Other schools will sponsor all-night parties on graduation night for their students to prevent graduates from drinking and driving.

Businesses in Benton and Charleston co-sponsor Project Graduation parties with their schools to provide seniors with one final activity together in a safe environment. Food, drinks and gifts are donated so students leave the party a winner.

Baccalaureate services, or special ceremonies held for the graduating class, will be held at about one-third of area schools. Many public schools have opted not to sponsor the ceremony because of the religious aspect, although some baccalaureate services have been arranged by outside organizations at these schools.

Whether the graduating class has three students or 300 students, administrators said their seniors are excited about commencement exercises and are ready to begin life after graduation. Many reported high numbers of students making plans to attend college or study at a technical school. In addition, several schools had three or more students competing for the top position as valedictorian of the class.

COMMENCEMENT DATES

KELLY HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Friday, May 16

8 p.m. Kelly High School gymnasium

Graduating class -- 77 students

ADVANCE HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Saturday, May 17

8 p.m. school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 42 students

DELTA HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Sunday, May 18

2 p.m. gymnasium

Graduating class -- 33 students

LEOPOLD HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Sunday, May 18

10 a.m. St. John's Church

Commencement

Sunday, May 18

7 p.m. high school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 22 students

CHAFFEE HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Sunday, May 18

7 p.m. Chaffee High School Football Field

*Rain location -- gymnasium

Graduating class -- 37 students

ORAN HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Sunday, May 18

2 p.m. high school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 29 students

SIKESTON HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Tuesday, May 20

7 p.m. High school field house

Graduating class -- 223 students

CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Wednesday, May 21

8 p.m. high school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 76 students

EAGLE RIDGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Commencement

Friday, May 23

7 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church

Graduating class -- 3 students

JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Sunday, May 18

7:30 p.m. Jackson High School Gymnasium

Commencement

Friday, May 23

7:30 p.m.

Jackson High School

Graduating class -- 280 students

OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Friday, May 23

8 p.m. gymnasium

Graduating class -- 34 students

PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Sunday, May 18

6 p.m. high school library

Commencement

Friday, May 23

8 p.m. football stadium

Rain location high school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 190 students

SCOTT CITY HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Friday, May 23

7:30 p.m. football stadium

*Rain location -- gymnasium

Graduating class -- 74 students

SCOTT COUNTY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Friday, May 23

8 p.m. High School gymnasium

Graduating class -- 21 students

ST. VINCENT HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Friday, May 23

10 a.m. St. Vincent de Paul Church

Commencement

Friday, May 23

7:30 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Church

Graduating class -- 42 students

WOODLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Sunday, May 18

8 p.m. Woodland gymnasium

Commencement

Friday, May 23

8 p.m. Woodland gymnasium

Graduating class -- 55 students

ZALMA HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Friday, May 23

7:30 p.m. high school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 21 students

ANNA-JONESBORO HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Sunday, May 18

2 p.m. high school auditorium

Commencement

Saturday, May 24

7:30 p.m. football stadium

Rain location -- gymnasium

Graduating class -- 120 students

CAIRO HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Sunday, May 25

3 p.m. high school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 47 students

MEADOW HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Wednesday, May 28

6 p.m. gymnasium

Commencement

Thursday, May 29

7:30 gymnasium

Graduating class -- 26 students

CAPE GIRARDEAU CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Sunday, May 18

7 p.m. Holiday Inn Convention Center

Commencement

Friday May 30

8 p.m.

Show Me Center

Graduating class -- 279 students

EGYPTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Friday, May 30

7 p.m. high school gymnasium

Graduating class -- 36 students

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

Baccalaureate Service

Wednesday, May 28

11 a.m. St. Vincent de Paul Church

Commencement

Friday, May 30

Notre Dame High School

Graduating class -- 70 students

SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL

Commencement

Sunday, June 1

2 p.m. high school auditorium

Graduating class -- 35 students