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Watauga High School Graduation to be Held on Saturday, June 8, at 9 a.m. at the Holmes Convocation Center

by Madison V. Fisler

June 6, 2013. It’s the day that they have all been waiting for, graduation day. On Saturday, June 8, at 9 a.m. over 300 Watauga High School students will cross the stage in the Holmes Convocation Center on Appalachian State University’s campus.

imgresSpeaking at the event will be the school’s Valedictorian Stephanie Pawlyszyn, the Salutatorian Madison Harman, Student Body President Taelor Critcher, Senior Class President Lauren Laudelka, the Interim Superintendent David Fonseca, Chair of the School Board Dr. Lee Warren and Principal Marshall Gasperson, said Jane Rogers, Senior Counselor at Watauga High School.

The graduation, which is expected to draw nearly 3,000 attendees, will be the first step in the sendoff for Watauga High School students. Watauga High has enjoyed a high graduation rate of 85.4 percent, five percent above the state average for public schools, said Marshall Ashcraft, Director of Public Information.

Since the ceremony will be held at such a large venue, there are no tickets required for entrance, ensuring students can have whomever they like watch them take this rite of passage.

With such a large crowd expected to attend, parking was forseen in advance as an issue. To remedy this situation, there will be ample parking available on campus during the graduation.

“Because the graduation is on a Saturday and because parking is much more available on the weekends, there should not be any problems,” Rogers said.

Parking will be available not only in the Rivers Street Parking Deck beside the convocation center, but also on Hill Street, at Edwin Duncan Hall and other lots on campus. The lot directly behind the Holmes Convocation Center will be reserved for handicapped parking, and all parking will be manned and monitored by Traffic and Parking at Appalachian State University.