By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
All eyes will be on the sky today as Hillsborough High School prepares for graduation ceremonies tonight.
After a year trying the indoor facilities at Sun Bank Arena in Trenton, early-evening commencement will return to the athletic stadium at 6 p.m. at the high school on Raider Boulevard.
Just in case — if the weather is bad, the school will prepare the high school gymnasium for the ceremony, and a simulcast in the air-conditioned Commons.
Weather forecasts predict what could almost be a perfect environment. After a 50-50 chance for rain in the early morning, the possibility is expected to abate and the temperature is predicted for about 70 degrees.
If there is a change of venue, people will be notified by phone messaging, Facebook, Twitter and the school website no later 3 p.m.
Seniors generally like the idea of returning “home” for graduation, said Cassidy Pezza, a graduate-to-be who served as student representative to the Board of Education for the last two years.
A lot of the rationale is tradition, she said. Graduates enter two by two into the stadium on the school track, giving everyone a chance for photos and waves.
The class sits on the turf field, with the school off to its far right.
At the field ceremony, graduates sit alphabetically, so it “it’s cool to sit next to the kids from your homeroom,” she said. “It’s like completing the whole journey from the freshman year.”
Future graduations are expected to return to some indoor arena, where there are advantages of air conditioning, unlimited seating and avoiding rain or a crowded, sultry gymnasium.
“Obviously there is some give-and-take,” she said. “But it’s a risk people are willing to take. A lot of people would rather be at the high school, even if it means being inside.”
About 590 graduates are expected to take the half-lap around the school track in red robes and mortarboard.
Giving the valedictorian address will be Trisha Datta, who is bound for Princeton University. Salutatorians are David Han and Sophia Huang; they tied for second-highest scholastic average. David will attend Dartmouth College, and Sophia is going to Rutgers.
Class President Michael Reilly will give his observations.
Schools Superintendent Jorden Schiff, Board of Education President Thomas Kinst and Principal Karen Bingert are scheduled to speak — but they have been known to cut their addresses short in extreme weather.
As usual, the class has a high academic profile. An estimated 428 students have said they will attend a 4-year college or university in the fall, and another 103 anticipate going to a two-year college. Three students are off to the military.
After the ceremony, most of the graduates will be off to Dave & Buster’s restaurant and arcade in Philadelphia for an all-night sendoff party.
