CLASS of 2023
Graduation is an exciting time for students and a cause for celebration. Our high school graduates will be honored on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the Celeste Center at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, 717 E 17th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.
PARKING
$5.00 per vehicle on the day of graduation
NOTE! 11th Avenue is NOW CLOSED!
From I-71, take 5th Avenue and go west to 4th Street. Turn north onto 4th Street. From 4th Street turn east onto 11th Avenue and follow the directions for graduation parking. Officers will be at the gate directing traffic.
* Due to heavy traffic around the fairgrounds, families should consider adding an extra hour to their planned arrival time for today’s graduation ceremonies.
Traffic and Parking Directions Provided by the Ohio Expo Center (DOWNLOAD EXPO CENTER MAP)
Please be aware the Historic Crew Stadium will be hosting Sonic Temple (formerly Rock on the Range) on graduation weekend, May 25-28, 2023. SPPlus [the parking service company] has developed a plan to move graduation traffic in and out of the parking area as smoothly as possible.
It is recommended that families use the 11th Ave exit on I-71 (Exit 110B) for both northbound and southbound directions. If coming from I-71, please travel westbound on 11th Ave towards Ohio Gate (Gate 8) to enter the parking areas. If coming from the west campus area, please also travel eastbound on 11th Ave towards Ohio Gate (Gate 8). Please note that 17th Ave will be closed for the concert and will not be accessible for the graduation ceremony or rehearsals. Once inside the gate, please follow the signs to your designated parking area. Designated ADA parking will be available and is shown on the map below. Signs will be posted to direct cars to that area.
GRADUATION SCHEDULE
Doors will open one hour before the ceremony begins. Graduation attendees will enter the Celeste Center at the main entrances located on the west side of the building.
Ceremonies begin:
- Westerville North High School - 10:00 a.m.
- Westerville Central High School - 2:00 p.m.
- Westerville South High School - 6:00 p.m.
NO balloons, backpacks or noise makers will be permitted inside the Celeste Center. The use of air horns, other noise-making devices and beach balls is distracting and are strictly prohibited. In consideration of your graduates and neighbors, please turn off all cell phones, watches, or other electronic devices.
PROGRAMS
Printed programs will be distributed in every graduate’s rehearsal packet. We will not be distributing programs the day of the event. If you would like to follow along with a printed copy, please bring your program with you to the ceremony. Otherwise, we will have QR codes available that you may scan for digital/mobile viewing during the event.
LIVE-STREAM
The graduation ceremony will also be live-streamed and that link will be available on the Westerville City Schools website.
DURING and AFTER COMMENCEMENT
Students and families are expected to act in a manner that appropriately reflects that dignity of the ceremony. As diplomas are presented, we ask the audience to please hold all applause until we have called each name.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the students will participate in the recessional and exit out of the South end of the Celeste Center and proceed to the Pavilion where they will receive their diplomas. Families will exit out the West doors of the Celeste Center and meet their student at the South end of the pavilion. No one but the graduates will be permitted in the pavilion.
We ask that all guests remain in their seats until after the graduates have exited the Celeste Center.
Graduates, families, and friends will not be permitted back into the building after the ceremony. Please take all your belongings with you.