Moon to Continue Holding Graduation on Campus

It just might become a school district tradition. 

The will continue to have its annual commencement ceremony in its new high school gymnasium.

While past ceremonies have been at Robert Morris University, the Moon Area School Board last night agreed to conduct the district's 2012 graduation ceremony in its university-size gymnasium.

"We've gotten nothing but positive feedback [on the commencement ceremony]," said high school Principal Barry Balaski. "[Seating] was a little bit tight, but I think people really enjoyed the ceremony."

Nearly 1,800 people attended in its high school gymnasium. Seating was provided on the gymnasium's bleachers and floor as well as in the nearby auditorium.

It was the first commencement ceremony in the gymnasium since the building opened earlier this year.

Balaski said about 25 tickets were left over after the ceremony.

"I surely understand when we talk about spacing [in the gymnasium] being tight, but we didn't deny anyone a ticket," Balaski said.

Although ongoing campus construction forced ceremony attendees to park off-campus,  Balaski said the district did not receive complaints about its system of shuttling guests from nearby parking lots to campus.

"I think there's something to be said for graduating on your own turf," Balaski said.