Kent will shift graduations to new Events Center in ’09

Kent School District high school seniors will have to drive to the Tacoma Dome to graduate this June, but next year’s graduating class will be walking across a more local and much newer stage. The Kent Events Center, which is expected to be complete by next January, will not only be the new home of the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team, it also will be the site of future graduations for local high schools.

June 2, 2008 9:11 pm

Kent School District high school seniors will have to drive to the Tacoma Dome to graduate this June, but next year’s graduating class will be walking across a more local and much newer stage.

The Kent Events Center, which is expected to be complete by next January, will not only be the new home of the Seattle Thunderbirds hockey team, it also will be the site of future graduations for local high schools.

The venue change will occur next year, with the Kentwood, Kentlake, Kent-Meridian and Kentridge classes of 2009 being the first to graduate at the $78.6 million, 6,025-seat arena.

Kent Mountain View Academy and Kent Phoenix Academy senior classes, which are typically much smaller, likely will continue to graduate at Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, according to district officials..

The Tacoma Dome has been the closest venue able to accommodate the four traditional high schools’ senior classes, which regularly consist of almost 500 students apiece. All four will in the class of 2008 will have their ceremonies at the indoor stadium on the same day next month.

School district officials say the new Kent Events Center will bring a pleasant change.

“While the Tacoma Dome works because it’s large, it’s really a lot of trouble getting down there, especially for kids and parents without transportation,” said Becky Hanks, district spokeswoman. “In contrast, this will provide an immediate backyard intimacy, so everyone’s really thrilled about it.”

Several members of next year’s graduating classes signed their names on the new arena’s final beam after it was put into place at a special ceremony at the construction site April 15.

Hanks said district officials will meet in the next several months with Kent Events Center’s management to plan the 2009 graduation ceremonies.

Meanwhile, the class of 2008 graduations are scheduled for the following times and places next month:

• Kentwood – 10 a.m. June 14, Tacoma Dome.

• Kentlake — 5:30 p.m. June 14, Tacoma Dome.

• Kent Phoenix Academy — 7 p.m. June 12, Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center.

• Kent Mountain View Academy — 7 p.m. June 13, Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center

• Kent-Meridian — 12:30 p.m. June 14, Tacoma Dome

• Kentridge — 3 p.m. June 14, Tacoma Dome.