LAKELAND, Fla. - Polk County Public Schools plans to be the first district in the Tampa Bay area to hold outdoor graduation ceremonies for its seniors. 

The ceremonies are scheduled to take place in June at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The largest graduating class in the district has 700 students. Each student will get four tickets, so that means some of the ceremonies could have more than 3,000 people in attendance. 

It will be an unforgettable moment, according to Bob Donahay, one of the people helping to organize the effort. 

“Twenty years from now, that high school senior is going to say, 'I got my diploma on home plate at Joker Marchant Stadium at Publix Field where the Detroit Tigers have spring training.' That special picture is going to last forever,” said Donahay, who is Lakeland’s Parks and Recreation Director. Lakeland owns the stadium and the Detroit Tigers use it for spring training. 

George Jenkins High School Class President Kailee Fogel is grateful for the opportunity. 

“I’m happy. I’m excited. I can’t wait to walk up to home plate and receive my diploma and hear everybody clap for me and see my friends one last time. My teachers. Things like that,”  Fogel said during a virtual news conference Friday.  

She said attending the ceremony is worth the risk of contracting the virus. She trusts the school district’s safety measures will keep her safe. 

“It’s not ideal of course but we’re not in ideal circumstances right now,” Fogel said.  

Everyone will be required to wear a mask and have their temperatures checked. Those with a fever will not be allowed in. 

Families will be given four tickets and have assigned seats, spread out throughout the stadium. 

“We’ll spray down all the seats, all the handrails. Everything. The bathrooms. Everything that’s touched after every summer after every day…We really feel good about our game plan. We really do,” Donahay said. 

Donahay said school employees, as well as Lakeland Parks and Recreation workers will help make sure attendees are following the rules, including keeping their masks on and following social distancing guidelines. 

“It's all hands on deck. We’re going to work with the school board and their staff and we’re going to help remind, and to make this as safe as possible,” Donahay said. 

He said there will also be signs placed around the stadium.  

The school district said it has consulted with the Polk County Department of Health, while planning the ceremonies. 

“If there is a spike in cases and the health department did not recommend it, then we would follow their guidelines,” said Tami Dawson, the district’s Regional Assistant Superintendent for high schools.  

The district has back up dates in July reserved for the same location. 

“This is not mandatory. No one has to participate in it. It’s voluntary. That includes students, that includes families, that also includes anyone who works for Polk County Schools,” Dawson said. 

The graduation ceremonies will also be livestreamed on the district’s YouTube Channel. 

School board member Billy Townsend said he’d like the Polk County Health Director to appear at the next school board meeting to answer questions from board members about the graduations. 

The district hopes to keep ceremonies to an hour, and will limit length of valedictorian speeches and eliminate some of the traditions such as the band and choirs performing.