One big outdoor graduation: Athens Drive High to celebrate Class of 2021 in traditional fashion

This year, the graduation season began with universities holding events outside as restrictions eased.

For Athens Drive High School, this year's graduation ceremony will take place at Jaguar Stadium.

Principal Stephen Mares says he wants families to understand the stadium will be fairly full. And without social distancing and masks, he says, some people may feel uncomfortable.

However, he says his priority are the students.

“I’m not just buying $65 cap and gown for a walk through!” said parent Susie Lucas.

Athens Drive Magnet High School announced it will be now be having one big ceremony on June 10 for the class of 2021.

“It’s going to be crowded, [we] will still be under capacity in our stadium, so there will still be room,” Mares said.

Originally, the plan was to have two separate graduations and one walk-through. But Mares says students already missed out on several special moments during the pandemic and students need this special day just as much as parents.

“I’m actually excited. I was excited he was having an outdoor graduation, anyway, even though it was going to be two separate ones, but when I got the email today I was like, 'Yes, OK, One big graduation because you know that’s what everybody is used to,” Lucas said.

There will be 435 seniors graduating and each family will get five tickets. That’s about 2,000 people total.

Lucas and her husband are planning on attending the big ceremony and trust the school is making the best decision.

“I think is everything is in place with the vaccination that’s going on right now, and after that with [what] the principal has in place and what the schools have in order," Lucas said.

Mares says students had a difficult year and they deserve the chance to celebrate together.

“They missed out on their prom last year," he said. "Junior, senior prom – they missed out on events at school, different things like that, so the opportunity to graduate together as a whole class is just too much to resist."

For those who aren’t as comfortable in large group settings, there will also be a walk-through ceremony on June 10 in their auditorium that will be masked and socially distant.