Cap and Gown pickup will be on Wednesday, May 13th, Thursday May 14th & Friday, May 15th in front of the Theater during lunch hours. Fee and size information was collected during the school registration process, and all students receive: Cap, Gown, Sash and Tassel.  

• Gowns should never be pressed with a hot iron; use either a warm iron (treat the fabric like rayon fabric) or hang the gown on a hanger in the bathroom where a hot shower has run long enough to make the air warm and moist. Wrinkles will readily hang out of the fabric when hung in this manner. 

• Mortorboard tassels should be worn on the right for graduation.

Honors Cords will be distributed on Thursday, May 21st, before the Honors Assembly between 9 and 9:30am outside the Carter Gym. 

• All seniors will attend the Senior Honors Assembly at 10am on May 21st in the Carter Gym.

• Seniors should be in their assigned seat by 9:30am for the Senior Slideshow! Click here for the seating chart.

• We are planning a formal, student-run, student-oriented assembly to honor the many successes of the Class of 2026. We ask for your help and cooperation in this last assembly of the year, as we let the light shine on our Hersey honorees.

• The Senior awards, chosen by the faculty, will be announced.  Seniors involved in school activities and recipients of awards, academic honors and Hersey scholarships will be recognized.  

• Graduation gowns will be worn, but no hats and tassels. 

• Students receiving an award, and the parents/guardians of these students, will be notified before this date.  Those parents of students receiving an award are invited to attend and will sit in the stands.

• Graduation practice will follow immediately after the ceremony; attendance is required.  

Honors cords will be distributed from 9 and 9:30am outside the Carter Gym. 

Honors are determined as follows: Honors Awards

• Honors - White Cord (3.0 - 3.79 GPA)

• High Honors - Gold Cord (3.8 - 4.19 GPA)

• Highest Honors - Red Cord (4.20 and above)

Watch the live stream of this year's graduation ceremony beginning at 7:00pm here.

The graduation ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at the NOW Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192. Click here for directions.

• Students should arrive at 5:45pm

• Gates open at 6:00pm

• The ceremony begins at 7:00pm

Graduates

• Tickets are required for entry. Each student will receive 9 tickets at graduation practice on May 21st.

• Graduates should arrive no later than 5:45 PM at Door 11. There will be a bag check for graduates. Graduates should park in the "Suite lot."

• The Accessible Entrance is through Door 10 for graduates and family members.

• Graduation is a formal ceremony, attire should be appropriate for the event.

All Attendees (NOW Arena Guidelines)

• Clear bags - bag checks will be performed.

• Flowers are permissible.

• No balloons allowed in the arena.

• Accessible entrance is through Door 10 for graduates and family members.

• Accessible seating is reserved for the guest and one companion.

• NOW Arena vendors will be onsite for guests to purchase flowers, keepsakes, and concessions.

• NOW Arena is a smoke-free facility. 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates will be exiting door #11. Students are able to meet their families ouriside the NOW Arena for photographs.  There will not be any opportunities for photography inside the NOW Arena after the ceremony.