
By Sara Beth Williams–
On Friday, Mesa Verde High School will hold its graduation ceremony on campus for the first time in almost 20 years.
The event will take place in the school’s new state-of-the-art stadium, completed last fall. Since the mid-2000s, Mesa Verde’s graduation ceremonies have been held at off-site locations, including Memorial Auditorium in downtown Sacramento and most recently at Del Campo High School’s stadium. The shift was due to the growing size of graduation ceremony attendance, which the campus facilities could no longer accommodate, according to the San Juan Unified School District.
Mesa Verde High School officially cut the ribbon on their new stadium in mid-October 2023 to a crowd of staff, former and current students, and multiple community members from Citrus Heights and surrounding areas.
Mesa Verde High School Principal Jennifer Petersen in October called the occasion “momentous.”
Related: Mesa Verde High School officially has its own stadium – Citrus Heights Sentinel
The new stadium features modern amenities such as a running track, football field, scoreboards, bleachers, lighting, sound system, press box, concession stand, and restroom facilities. The renovation project also included upgrades to the campus softball fields, new tennis and basketball courts, and expanded parking and drop-off areas. These improvements were funded through voter-approved bond fund.
San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai told The Sentinel on Tuesday before graduation that students, family, and staff are all “very excited” to celebrate the Class of 2024 graduates at the new stadium.
“There is a strong sense of pride and community that emerges when you’re able to celebrate important milestones such as graduation on your own campus,” Rai said, adding that the district looks forward to the graduation ceremony and future events that bring the school and surrounding community together with the new stadium.
On Friday, Mesa Verde High School will hold its graduation ceremony on campus for the first time in almost 20 years...
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