Alexandria Technical and Community College will host its commencement ceremony on May 12 at the Runestone Community Center. The ATCC graduation is in-person for students only and streamed online for friends, family and other spectators.

The schedule for ATCC’s graduation is as follows:

• Manufacturing, Transportation and Design Division programs at 9 a.m. This includes Carpentry, Comm Art, Diesel, Interior Design, Machine Tool, Mechanical Drafting, Mechatronics and Powersports and Welding.

• Health (except Nursing) Business and Liberal Arts programs at 11 a.m. This includes Accounting, Biology, Business/Fashion/Marketing/Retail, Cybersecurity/CIAS, Early Childhood Education, Exercise Science, History, Human Services, Ind Studies, Liberal Arts, Medical Administrative/Coding, Medical Lab, Paralegal, Phlebotomy, Psychology and SLPA.

• Law Enforcement and Nursing Programs at 1 p.m. This includes Law Enforcement, Practical Nursing and associate degrees in Nursing

During the commencement, students are to arrive no more than 30 minutes before the ceremony. Masks will be worn at all times and students will go directly to assigned seats upon arrival. After a student’s name is called, they will exit the building and not return to their seat.

Event photography will be provided by GradImages, which can be purchased. Students can pre-register for photos on their website at www.gradimages.com . Spectators can watch ceremonies at www.alextech.edu/graduation or on the ATCC Facebook and YouTube pages.

AAHS tentative graduation plans

Alexandria Area High School’s 2021 graduation ceremony will be split into two parts on June 4.

Under the current COVID-19 guidelines, the school is allowed to host up to 559 people. Splitting the graduation ceremony into two parts allows each student to bring three family members. Graduates that have multiple households will get five tickets.

The tentative schedule for graduation is as follows:

• First ceremony (Last name starts with A-K) at 4:45

• Second ceremony (Last name starts with L-Z) at 6:30

• Senior parade for all graduates at 7:50 at Discovery Middle School

• Parent-sponsored fireworks show following the parade

• Community and parent-sponsored graduation party at Runestone Regional Learning Center following fireworks

The school will live stream all events. Livestream links are on the AAHS homepage at www.alexschools.org .

Rehearsals for graduation will take place at 9 and 10:30 a.m.on June 2. May 28 is the last day of school for seniors. Baccalaureate will also be on June 2, at the AAHS gym. This is an optional event for seniors that is a student-led celebration with the faith community. Pastor Trinity Opp of Alexandria Covenant Church will provide this year’s message.

AAHS will host its Honors Night on May 17 at 7 p.m. in the AAHS gym. Students who are recognized will get an invitation in the weeks leading up to the event.

This year's graduation schedule was given out to parents and students prior to Gov. Tim Walz's announcement that COVID-19 restrictions would be loosened. The school's current plans are based off of the old COVID-19 guidelines, and will be reassessed in the coming weeks. The district is taking into consideration all graduation capabilities for students and their families to make it a night they won't forget.