AHS grads first to walk in a new venue
Class of 2007 graduates at The College of New Jersey campus in Ewing
BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING staff Allentown High School Salutatorian Karyn Sulit gives her speech during graduation held at The College of New Jersey's field house on June 20.

Allentown High School's 82nd graduating class was the first to have its commencement ceremony take place off campus.

Members of the class of 2007 received their diplomas on the evening of June 20 at the field house at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing.

Before the ceremony began, graduates walked around the perimeter of the very large auditorium and down the aisles so relatives and friends could congratulate them and take photos.

Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Smith said that graduation in the new venue went very smoothly.

"There was adequate parking for everyone, although some people walked a quarter of a mile at most," he said. "There were college security personnel in sufficient numbers to direct traffic to the designated parking areas."

Smith also said the layout of the venue assured that no seat was a long distance from the stage.

The school district organized a subcommittee to look at the possibility of relocating graduation from school grounds to a larger, indoor venue last year. At that time, Allentown High School Principal Christopher Nagy said holding the ceremony elsewhere could save thousands of dollars.

The subcommittee investigated using several possible off-site locations for graduation. Some, such as the War Memorial in Trenton, did not have sufficient seating, while others were considered too far away.

The subcommittee found that the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, which has 7,300 seats and a parking lot that could accommodate 3,500 vehicles, and the field house at TCNJ, which has 3,200 seats and ample parking, would both suffice for the school district's needs.

The high school's graduation last year cost $12,985. When comparing prices, the subcommittee said graduation at the arena would amount to about $8,000 and graduation at TCNJ would amount to about $7,600.

Cost wasn't the only factor in deciding to move graduation to a different venue.

"Because it rained hard and then sporadically 'til about 11 a.m. [on graduation day], we were very fortunate to be inside," Smith said. "Although the sky was generally clear at graduation time, the field area was soft and probably would have been a problem to negotiate with high-heeled shoes on."

If the ceremony had been held on school grounds in inclement weather, the district's maintenance staff would have had to wipe off chairs and equipment to set them up inside, Smith said.

According to Smith, an inside ceremony at most high schools throughout the country proves inadequate for the number of audience members who want to attend. At AHS, audience members who do not fit into the auditorium are assigned to sit in the gym, where they watch the event on closed-circuit television.

For these reasons, Smith said he rates the TCNJ venue a big success.

"It will be more convenient in future years as we move to the much nearer Sovereign [Bank] Arena in Trenton," he said.

Nagy said that he has promoted holding commencement exercises in a covered venue for several years.

"Over the past three years, the administrators, buildings and grounds staff, attendees and students had to scramble to move quickly through commencement exercises, and cut out certain parts just to complete commencement exercises in the midst of a burst of rain," he said.

He continued, "To me, students and staff work hard over the four years to prepare for this moment, which should be dignified and a moment to shine and enjoy the fruits of their labor."

Nagy added that had the commencement ceremony taken place outside on school grounds that day, it would have been problematic.

"I would have had to have students practice in the rain," he said. "This would have placed students in a dangerous situation."

Nagy said he is grateful to the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education for giving him the opportunity to propose holding commencement exercises off campus and for the board's insight into avoiding placing parents, guests and students in untenable situations.

"All one needs to do is to imagine how difficult it would have been last evening to move a wheelchair through rain-soaked fields or for ladies who wear high-heeled shoes," he said.

Nagy said the school had planned to host 2,200 graduation attendants and met that plan.

"Not having tickets, which limits attendance, provided families the opportunity to involve the entire family," he said. "Parents commented that they were relieved that they did not have to make difficult choices about who would or would not attend."

School district Director of Building and Grounds James Van Horn and his crew, art teacher Bradley Nicklas and the high school's secretarial staff set up the field house at TCNJ for graduation.

"I am a firm believer that 90 percent of the work for an event is preparation and 10 percent rehearsal," Nagy said. "That certainly paid off."