Graduation to be held at Barnhill Arena

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

GENTRY - Graduation ceremonies for seniors at Gentry High School will be held in Fayetteville next May so that there is ample room for those attending and no one needs to be turned away into an overflow room.

Last month, the Gentry School Board authorized high school principal Brae Harper to reserve Barnhill Arena in Fayetteville for spring graduation ceremonies if the senior class chose to have their graduation there.

The board had hoped to reserve the new Bill George Arena on the campus of John Brown University in Siloam Springs but learned the university is not renting out the facility in its first year.

With approval of the senior class, the Barnhill Arena was booked for Monday, May 16. No weekend dates were available, and a time was not yet set prior to the last school board meeting.

The decision was made to find an indoor facility because rains and a wet football field in Pioneer Stadium have forced the graduation to be moved indoorsfor three of the last four years.

Limited seating capacity and the lack of air conditioning in the gymnasium, and limited seating in the auditorium, made it impossible for everyone to be admitted to the ceremonies. An overflow room in the cafeteria with live video was used last spring to accommodate the large crowds in attendance.

Though the drive to Fayetteville may keep some away, those who do attend spring graduation ceremonies should have no problem finding a place to sit. The arena seats approximately 10,000.

News, Pages 1 on 11/24/2010