Graduation for the Class of 2026 is rapidly approaching. This year, about 480 seniors are slated to walk across the stage at Bramlage Coliseum. The Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on May 17, with doors opening at 1 p.m.. Tickets are not required to attend graduation, and for those unable to attend, the MHS Student Media will livestream the ceremony on the MHS Mentor YouTube channel. Highlighting graduation will be senior speakers Kelbey Larchick and Jibran Khmous. 

All student participants are expected to wear their 2026 cap and gown from Jostens as well as any approved cords. These include the Distinguished Service Graduate, Leadership and National Honors Society cords, and the golden 3.5+ GPA cord. 

The Big Blue Marching Band will perform to open the ceremony.

“The band will play. To start, they play the ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ [marches] when we enter,” senior principal David Holloway said. “Then they’ll play the fight song and all the stuff that they usually do.”

Graduation rehearsal will take place after school on May 14, the last day of school for seniors.

“The counselors are going to put cards on everybody’s seat, and students are going to come in and find their seat,” Holloway said. “Then they’re going to practice walking one time, and then they’ll be sent on their way.”

While most seniors will graduate this spring, some graduated at the end of the first semester.

“All students at Manhattan High have the ability to graduate after their first semester of their senior year, as long as they pass everything,” Holloway said. “You just have to take Government and second semester English in the first semester.”

Graduation is always one of the busiest but most rewarding times of the year for administration.

“I’m really looking forward to graduating this class,” Holloway said.