Class of 2026 Graduation
Sunday, June 28 @ noon | MVP Arena 

Graduation tickets:

• MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests to enter the arena on the day of our ceremony this year. Each graduate was allowed up to 15 tickets by placing a reservation via this Google Form. 

• Please note when MVP Arena printed the tickets, their ticketing office inadvertently put the wrong day of the week on the tickets. Graduation will NOT take place on Saturday. The Albany High Class of 2026 Graduation will take place on SUNDAY, JUNE 28 at noon.  Please use the tickets that have been distributed for entry into the event. The MVP staff is aware of the error, and it will not impact your ability to enter the venue on the day of graduation. As a reminder, only guests with tickets will be admitted to the ceremony.  Please ensure that all guests are aware of the printing error and that they know that the correct date remains Sunday, June 28.

• Please be sure to store your graduation tickets in a safe and secure place. Tickets cannot be reprinted or replaced. Guests must present the physical ticket for admission into MVP Arena the day of graduation!

Caps, gowns and graduation ticket distribution

• Pick-up of caps, gowns and graduation tickets has already taken place. Please stop by the main office as soon as possible during school hours if you still need to pick up your cap, gown, graduation tickets, honor cords and/or lawn sign.
• Each set includes a cap, gown, sash and 2026 tassel for $35.

Photo op: seniors who attended Albany School of Humanities (ASH)

• Seniors, if you attended Albany School of Humanities, you are invited to meet outside ASH with your cap and gown on Thursday, June 25 at 2 p.m. to take photos with your elementary school classmates.
• This is an event organized by one of our senior parents, Jennifer Moulden. Feel free to reach out to her at jennifermoulden@aol.com with any questions!

Pre-ordering flowers:

• Families and loved ones can pre-order flowers online for their graduate via a co-sponsored Albany High School fundraiser. The pre-orders will close at noon on Saturday, June 27.
• Please pick up your order at the entrance of the MVP arena upon arrival at the graduation ceremony.

Yearbook information:

• Yearbooks arrived at Albany High at the beginning of June.
• If you ordered a Yearbook, but have not yet picked it up, please reach out to yearbook adviser Amanda Weklar at aweklar@albany.k12.ny.us

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To ensure that our graduation celebration can proceed in a smooth and timely fashion, we ask that graduates and loved ones maintain a posture of respect and decorum prior to, during and after the ceremony. The following details pertain to the day of graduation:

Student arrival:

• Graduates should arrive at the Beaver Street entrance promptly at 11 a.m. so they can pass through routine security checks and line up for the procession. 
• Students are encouraged to bring water and wear comfortable shoes.
• They will then be directed to “check-in” tables (look for signs for your academy/program, e.g. ‘CIT’ or ‘NGT’) and receive a procession card with instructions on how to line up.

Guest arrival:

• The arena will open its doors for guests at the main entrance on Pearl Street and the entrance on Market Street at 11 a.m., and the ceremony will begin at noon sharp.
• Guests will pass through routine security to enter into the seating area in the arena prior to presenting their ticket.
• Tickets will be scanned by an attendant to allow entry directly after the security check. (As a reminder, tickets are free and each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Guests were asked to reserve tickets via this Google Form.)
• The MVP Arena is wheelchair-accessible and escorts will be available to the ADA-accessible sections.
• Balloons are not permitted inside the venue.

The ceremony:

• The venue doors will close, and the ceremony will begin promptly at noon.
• After filing in, graduates will remain standing until invited to have a seat by Principal Commerford. When the time comes, graduates will be ushered by row to line up to cross the stage.
• Before crossing the stage, graduates will hand their procession cards to the announcers and clarify how to pronounce their names.
• Graduates MUST remain seated for the entire ceremony and exit with the recessional as a class.

After the ceremony:

• The Class of 2026 will exit the arena in a recessional, just like how they enter. They will be directed to the same backstage area where they lined up so they can pick up their diplomas before exiting. Students who are unable to get their diploma the day of graduation can pick it up during the summer at the Albany High main office. Summer office hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• To keep everyone safe and avoid overcrowding, graduates must exit the venue via Beaver Street and guests are asked to exit the building immediately via the Pearl Street and Market Street exits.
• The ceremony is expected to conclude around 2:30 p.m.

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Graduation requirements: school property and payments

• In order to receive a diploma, graduates must return all school property and pay any outstanding balances prior to graduation, including exam fees, library books, textbooks and athletic equipment and uniforms.  
• Seniors must return their Chromebooks and should report any damages at that time.

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Graduation requirements: grades and exams

All seniors must meet all graduation requirements in order to attend graduation, including:

• Final/Regents examinations and class attendance are critically important for graduation.
• Seniors must report to exams on time, pass all courses and meet all requirements to graduate.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, contact your student’s school counselor or academy principal: 

• Citizenship Academy Principal Emma Steckman – (518) 475-6220
• Discovery Academy Principal Jordan Goldman – (518) 475-6230
• Innovation Academy Principal Richard Shea – (518) 475-6240
• Leadership Academy Principal Michaela Miranda – (518) 475-6250 
• Night School Coordinators Greg Baker & Peter Justice – (518) 475-6416
• Tony Clement Education Center Principal Chris Martel – (518) 475-6525