Roseville High School Graduation Tonight

Roseville Area High School will hold commencement exercises Friday evening, with a graduating senior class of 523 students.

That was the number of expected graduates, as of Friday morning, said Mark Curley, a graduation organizer and the high school’s  dean of ninth grade students.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in downtown St. Paul.

Despite the slightly larger class of 2011 compared with the past couple graduating classes, Curley said he still expects the commencement ceremony to take about one hour and 45 minutes.

“We are no nonsense,” Curley said, noting that parents particularly want to hear their sons’ and daughters’ names read at graduation.  

Curley, who is in about his 15th year helping with Roseville High's graduation, said planning is the key to make the ceremony go off smoothly. One very important detail: To make sure the students are lined up correctly to get their diplomas since they are actually receiving the real thing, he said.

This year’s commencement program will include a presentation of the colors by the Rosetown American Legion Post 542, remarks from Principal Jenny Loeck, the presentation of the top 1 percent of the graduating class, recognition of retiring teachers, a commencement speech by senior Shahbaz Khan, remarks from District 623 Superintendent John Thein and then reading of the graduates’ names,  Curley said.