Senior exams will be given May 17-18, wrapping up the last week of school for Bridgeport High School graduating seniors. And they will go out with a bang. As is tradition, members of this year's graduating class will hold a "senior parade" on Wednesday, arriving at school in an untraditional way - via dirt bike, tractor or anything on wheels. 

 

Senior Counselor Jane Byrd said there are 166 seniors in this year's graduating class. The May 20 senior trip to Cedar Point will kick off an action-packed week of graduating activities. Beginning at 12:30 p.m. Monday, May 21, seniors will practice for senior assembly which takes place Tuesday, May 22 at the BHS auditorium.

 

Beginning at 9 a.m., the assembly will feature the presentation of college scholarships which total over $4 million, Byrd said.

 

Providing special music at senior assembly will be Megan Rinker, who will sing "Country Roads" and Joplin Kehrer, who will perform "Vienna."  

 

Addressing their graduating peers will be senior class representatives Victoria Catania and Cooper Hineman, who – along with Mr. and Miss BHS Brent Sinsel and Catie Wilson – were chosen for the honors by BHS faculty. 

 

That evening of May 22 will also feature the baccalaureate service, organized by the students and to be held at Fellowship Bible Church near Hinkle Lake. The service begins at 6 p.m. Providing special music will be BHS senior/vocalist Taylor Frame. Following the baccalaureate will be the senior banquet, 7:15 p.m. at Bridgeport Conference Center.

 

The morning of Friday, May 25 will feature the Rose Breakfast at the BHS cafeteria, followed by viewing of the senior video and graduation practice. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Graduation practice should start around 9 a.m. 

 

Weather permitting, graduation will be held on Wayne Jamison Field and will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 26. If weather doesn't allow that, the ceremony will be held inside the BHS gymnasium. 

 

In addition to speeches delivered by Wilson and Sinsel, some members of the senior class will provide special music. Jenna Love will sing "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. Lacy Bryant and Alyssa Dent will sing "Five More Minutes" by Scotty McCreery. 

 

"It means a lot to me, especially singing this song because as soon as it came out, my mom kept saying to me that she wanted me to sing this at graduation," Bryant said. "I was too scared to do it alone so when Alyssa asked if I would sing with her, I was all for it. I know it will make my mom proud and that's what means the most to me. There's also a lot of talented people in our grade, so I feel special and honored that Alyssa and I were chosen."

 

As always, a number of BHS juniors will be involved in commencement exercises. Leading the seniors in the graduation processional to “Pomp and Circumstance” – played by the BHS Band.  

 

Editor's Note: The complete graduation processional will be captured on video by Connect-Bridgeport and published here on Connect-Bridgeport.com later on Saturday.