When you have a graduation to plan, it’s a little hectic. When you’re planning three rival high schools’ graduations in one building, it has to be clock work. Wilson High at 10 AM, South Florence at two, and West Florence at six in the evening. The students though, wouldn’t have it any other way.
"It's kind of cool to have rival schools together for one day and just celebrate at the same time,” said South Florence senior Sarah Calcutt.
"Actually it's very exciting just to see the look on the faces of the kids and the parents, it's a culmination of 12 years of their hard work, and 12 years of angst on the parents part, so we're really excited for this,” said Florence School District 1 Superintendent Larry Jackson. Around 1,000 students walked across the same stage. And the reason for the Civic Center graduation wasn’t to hold all the students, but all the parents. With the full arena reserved for the day, there were no seating problems, no strict placement arrangements, and everyone got to watch the day they’d been waiting for.
"I've worked with these students for four years, it's quite an experience and just to see them walk across the stage and receive their diploma is an opportunity that I wouldn't miss for anything,” said South Florence principal Neal Vincent.
"We worked so hard to make sure they got the best education Florence District One could give them, and again our hope is that they go back out and contribute to the society in which they've benefited so much from,” said Jackson.

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