Congratulations Class of 2026!

Graduation will soon be here! Seniors must have accumulated 43 credits and have
completed all requirements to be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony.

IMPORTANT DATES 

Cap, Gown, Tassel & Ticket Distribution - Friday, May 15, all day
Last Day of School for Seniors- Thursday, May 21

Commencement Practice and Picnic - Friday, May 22 at 10:30 a.m.
The senior picnic will be held immediately
after the commencement practice.

Commencement Ceremony - Saturday, May 23 at 1 p.m.
Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Seniors should arrive no later than 12:15 p.m.\

Senior Class Party - Saturday, May 23, 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Graduation Fee
While Stillwater Area Public Schools provides caps, gowns, and diplomas for graduates,
a $30 fee has been established to cover the costs associated with other elements of
the graduation ceremony. The fee must be paid in order to participate in the ceremony.
Please pay online using EduTrakConnect at payments.stillwaterschools.org

Cap And Gown
Caps and gowns will be issued on Friday, May 15, 2026. Students will be called down
according to last name (please see schedule below). The gown, cap and tassel, and honor
cords (if applicable) will be used for the commencement ceremony and are yours to keep.
A - C .....................1st hour I - L ......................3rd hour P - S ....................5th hour
D - H ....................2nd hour M - O ...................4th hour T - Z .....................6th hour

Students with any of the following will have a hold placed on their cap and gown and
will not be able to pick them up at the time of distribution:
1) Unearned credits required for graduation
2) Outstanding fines or fees
3) Unreturned library and/or textbooks, Chromebooks and chargers
4) Unpaid $30 graduation fee

Students who have holds placed on their cap and gown may pick up their cap and gown
before or after school once their hold has been removed (i.e. credits earned, fines paid,
books returned, etc.).

Students are responsible for their caps and gowns from the time they are issued until
the commencement ceremony. The gown should be kept on a coat hanger to eliminate
wrinkles. Be careful to keep the tassel with the cap. Students may not use caps and
gowns from previous years as colors may vary.

Tickets
Due to capacity of the arena, students will receive six tickets
with cap and gown. No extra tickets will be issued. Each ticket
will have a unique barcode which will be scanned upon entry.
Duplicated tickets will not be accepted by Roy Wilkins security
staff. Students will be responsible for the specific barcodes they
are issued and will not receive additional barcodes if tickets are
reported as lost. If tickets are lost, students will be re-issued the
exact same 6 barcodes that they were initially issued at cap and
gown distribution and those tickets will be available at the box
office at Roy Wilkins for pickup.

Honor Ranks - Cords/Stoles
GPA of 3.750 or higher will wear stoles
GPA of 3.500-3.749 will wear a white cord
GPA of 3.000-3.499 will wear a gold cord
All students are recognized in the commencement program.
Commencement Practice
All seniors participating in the commencement ceremony MUST report to
the high school gym for practice on Friday, May 22 from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
IT IS MANDATORY THAT ALL STUDENTS BE THERE AND ON TIME.
Any senior not participating in practice WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE for the commencement ceremony (unless cleared by administration).
We will walk through the entire ceremony during the morning practice session. The senior picnic will be held  immediately after the commencement practice.

Commencement
The commencement ceremony will take place at Roy Wilkins Auditorium, 175
West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. All graduating seniors are to report to the arena by 12:15 p.m.

Participation In Commencement Exercises
All seniors who are eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony are encouraged to take part in this event. Participation is not mandatory or a condition for the completion of
graduation requirements. Participation in the ceremony is a privilege.
Commencement is the most formal activity of a student’s high school career and it represents the school district’s public acknowledgment of high school completion. The cap and gown are formal educational attire and students choosing to participate in commencement must dress
appropriately. The dress code for attire
worn under the commencement gown is semi-formal:
Dress shirt & tie or dress; dress slacks or
skirt; dress shoes (no tennis shoes) No flowers or other adornments are to be worn on the gown/cap or carried into the arena. Academic achievement regalia and ethnic stoles are allowed but must be pre- approved by administration by May 21, 2026.

Conduct At The Commencement Ceremony
Commencement is regarded as the most formal of scholastic ceremonies. Students, parents and guests are expected to act in a dignified manner. Inattentiveness and/or talking during the ceremony is inappropriate. Beach balls or noisemakers such as whistles and aerosol horns are not allowed in the arena. The use of these items distracts from the dignity of the ceremony and the ability of the audience to hear names as they are called. Students and guests who are disruptive to the ceremony may be removed from the ceremony and not allowed to participate.

Alcohol and Drugs

Roy Wilkins Auditorium prohibits alcohol, drugs, weapons, bottles, cans and coolers on their premises. Students who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to participate.
• SMOKING — Roy Wilkins Auditorium is a non-smoking facility and smoking is strictly prohibited in all areas.
• SEATING — All seating is General Admission. Tickets will have a section, row, and seat printed on the ticket, but
this is for counting purposes and is not to be considered as an assigned seat.
Seating is first come, first served. There is no reserved seating.
• HANDICAPPED SEATING is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 11:45 a.m. We encourage you to arrive early if you should need this seating.

Diploma Distribution
Diplomas will be distributed immediately following the ceremony in the staging area where seniors lined up. Attendees will not be allowed on the floor after the ceremony. All parents, family members and other guests should plan to meet graduates outside.

Pictures
For your convenience, we have made arrangements with Lifetouch for a professional photographer to record the
moment that each diploma is awarded. Visit events.lifetouch.com to sign up and receive notification when your proofs are online and ready to order.
• A proof of this photo will be available online at events.lifetouch.com within ten days following the ceremony.
• All students will be photographed.
• There is no obligation to purchase.
• Personal pictures can be taken before or after the ceremony.

 

If you have any questions about graduation, contact
your student’s pony center:
(A-Foy) Red Pony Student Center ............................. 651-351-8021
(Foz-Ley) Gray Pony Student Center......................... 651-351-8039
(Lez-Run) White Pony Student Center ...................... 651-351-8010
(Ruo-Z) - Black Pony Student Center ........................ 651-351-8002

 

If you'd like to download a pdf of this information to print or have to refer to, you can do so here.