Contact Info

• The faculty sponsor for graduation and graduation-related senior events is Lisa Volkening. If you have questions that are not answered below, please email uhsgraduation@gmail.com and/or lisa.volkening@tusd1.org.

• Class of 2026! There is a "Prepare for Graduation" module in your Canvas called "UHS CCCC - Class of 2026". Please go through that and turn on notifications for that Canvas.

• Parents/guardians, please sign up for info from my mailing list at Graduation Info List Sign-Up. An archive of past emails is here. This list is purged of contacts each July, so if you have signed up in the past you will have to sign up again.

• I have attempted to make a Parent Square group that will have the same posts as the mailing list above. If you are already in UHS Parent Square, look for it in groups and join.

2026 Graduation Details

Date/Time: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 7 PM (doors open at 6 PM at Gate B, graduates need to arrive no later than 6 PM at Gate A) 

Location: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2500 E Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ

Parking: Parking is free. There are many handicapped reserved parking spots near the entrance.

NO TICKETS ARE NEEDED. The venue is large enough for each graduate to bring almost 30 guests, so we will not run out of room. Seating is first come, first served. There are many wheelchair accessible seats along the concourse level of the stadium; please leave those seats open for people that need them. 

Kino will be selling snacks and drinks (none of that money supports the school) and there are water fountains. Do not bring in outside food or drinks other than clear water bottles (see clear-bag policy below).

When the ceremony ends, graduates will go pick up their actual diploma, since only the covers will be distributed on stage. This will take them 5-15 minutes, so PLEASE USE THE RESTROOM BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE STADIUM. You will not be allowed to re-enter under any circumstances, and you may not leave the parking lot for another 45-60 minutes due to your own celebrations outside (and traffic).

Kino has a CLEAR BAG POLICY for all events, including this one. To be on the safe side, just don't bring anything that is not absolutely necessary. Below is a graphic Kino gave us explaining their clear-bag policy.

Debt Paid Before Graduation Day

Hello 12th grade students and families,

We are getting close to graduation, and that means completing our senior checklists as early as possible through the final weeks of high school. This message pertains to clearing school debt and diploma procedures at the graduation ceremony.

Student debt info 

• Anyone with an outstanding debt must have that debt paid in full before graduation in order to receive their diploma on graduation day, Thursday, May 21, 2026. You can go to the finance office during business hours (not during class hours) or log in to your InTouch account to pay any bills, fines, fees, or anything else outstanding on your account between now and graduation.

• We will not have a finance checkout table at graduation. All accounts will need to be brought to a balance of $0 BEFORE the graduation ceremony in order to receive your diploma.

• The office can also generate bills for individuals so that you may have a reference before you arrive to the office or pay online.

• If you have any questions about your debt or need to speak to an administrator, come directly to Mr. Ranjel.

Graduation ceremony procedures

• On graduation day: we will be handing out diploma covers ONLY as you walk across the stage. 

• After the ceremony is completed, all graduates will exit the field along the 3rd base side and go to the concourse on the west side of the stadium to check out. We will walk you through this at graduation rehearsal in the morning of May 21.

• At checkout, you will receive and sign for your diploma if your account is clear, or you will receive and sign for a bill with your remaining balance. It will be up to you to make an appointment with Ms. Lopez in the finance office to pay off your debt. She will give you a receipt, which you will bring to the UHS administration office to collect your diploma during business hours on a date after the graduation ceremony day.

Thank you, and we'll keep you posted on any future information!

Beto Ranjel

Graduation Practice

Graduation practice is MANDATORY for graduates and will start at 7:30 AM on May 21st at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. It will be over around 10:30, if seniors all follow directions and cooperate. If a senior knows they will be absent, they need to email Ms. Volkening immediately. A no-show no-notice at practice means the senior will be removed from the graduation script and so will not be able to walk at the ceremony that evening.

After practice, seniors are dismissed for the day and should NOT go back to school. Seniors need to return for the graduation ceremony no later than 6 PM. Please note that 6 PM is also when the gates open for guests to enter, though they will have a different entrance.

Practice will be hot and out in the sun. Seniors should wear comfortable clothes, sun protection, and bring water. They should BRING the shoes they intend to wear to graduation and we’ll tell them to put them on to practice walking in them at the appropriate time. They should bring other shoes for the rest of practice.

Note: for practice we are not limited in what we can bring in, like a bag, umbrella, reusable water bottle, etc., so seniors should bring all those things! But for graduation itself they will only be able to walk in with what’s on their person – Kino has a clear-bag policy for all events, and seniors don’t want to be carrying anything during the ceremony anyway. We will have disposable water bottles available to graduates during the ceremony. 

Honors/Declaration Night

Honors/Declaration Night will be Tuesday, May 19th at 7 PM, at UHS.

Tentative Schedule:

5:30pm – 7pm 

Backpack drop-off for Grad Night. Students attending Grad Night need to drop off their overnight bags outside the east library. Parents need to drop off their memory boards.

6pm – 7pm 

Seniors pick up a folder of their awards/cords/stoles and keepsake graduation programs

6:40pm - 7pm

Families, friends, and guests arrive. Bring a lawn chair/blanket to gather on the Amphi lawn *limited chairs will be available

7:00pm

Declaration Night program begins. Students will be recognized for their high schoolendeavors, special awards. Surprise scholarships will be shared, and our annual roll call honoring student plans for next year will end the evening.

Grad Night

Buy your Grad Night Tickets Now! (or make a donation! Celebrate the Class of 2026! Shop our Grad Night Wish List.

The UHS Parent Association needs your help to make the Class of 2026 Grad Night Party a success. Please consider helping us by donating your time. Senior parents are welcome to help decorate or clean up, but we'd like the parents/guardians of freshmen, sophomore and junior students to pay it forward by volunteering the night of the event. Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 21, 2026 and/or Friday, May 22, 2026 and click the link below to find your opportunity to help. Without your help, this event would not be possible!

UHSPA Grad Night signup!

Caps & Gowns

Graduates must wear a gown and cap with tassel in the school's chosen style in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. These must be purchased from our official vendor, Jostens.

The Jostens UHS store is: Jostens-University HS

Here is a direct link to the cap & gown ONLY: BDG Cap and Gown Unit (the price will keep going up as graduation nears). This DOES include a tassel. The caps/gowns will be delivered to the school for student pickup.

UHS Administration has a process to borrow a cap and gown if you meet financial need requirements. Please contact UHS AP Dr. Kelly Bristow to initiate that process.

A note from Administration about additions to the cap and gown uniform

We are gearing up for graduation, and we are in the final quarter until then! Rincon High School's graduation will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at the Rincon/University High School stadium, and University High School's graduation will take place on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at the Kino Sports Complex. Below is information regarding regalia for each day. Pardon the formality of the language but we want to be clear on what the expectations and requirements will be. Please reach out to your respective administration team if you have any specific questions surrounding your school's regalia and adornments. 

The Rincon and University administrations would like to share the cord system that is approved for graduation regalia. Rincon High School will purchase the Top 20 cords, and University High School will purchase the AP Scholar cords. Every other cord specified below will need to be purchased by their respective representative entities. All other regalia such as sashes, stoles, or other decorative items must be approved through the practices described in governing board policy IKFB-R - Graduation Exercises - Adornments to Cap and Gown. Cultural adornments are also allowed through the same governing board policy. All students must wear their respective school's graduation regalia and can participate in graduation exercises through stipulations described in governing board policy IKFB - Graduation & Promotion Exercises..

 Top 20 (Rincon only): gold

National Honor Society (Rincon only): white

AVID scholar (Rincon only): turquoise

AP scholar: royal blue

AP scholar with honor: blue/white twist

AP scholar with distinction: blue/gold twist

Elected student council officer: silver

Competitive club officer: orange

Interest club officer: red

Any athletic honors, fine arts honors, or other academic honors will be purchased by the individual students through Jostens, such as letters, school graduation year numbers, pins, etc.

Administrations from each school will notify students of their receipt of Top 20 or AP Scholar cords, and they will be handed out closer to graduation.

CLARIFICATION: random decoration of mortar boards (caps) and robes is not permitted. Come speak to your respective principal with any questions regarding the information provided. Stay alert for any further information regarding graduation!

Edit sent by Mr. Ranjel on 3/2

I was reminded last week of the cords and honors offered for dual enrollment (U of A and Pima CC), and AZ State Seals: biliteracy, personal finance, civics, and arts proficiency. These are all also approved cords for students to wear at graduation:

• U of A dual enrollment: blue with red stripe (navy and cardinal but you get the idea)

• Pima CC dual enrollment: blue with orange stripe (we believe), and a pin

• Arts seal: brown with pink stripe

• Biliteracy seal: red, yellow, or blue

• Civics seal: red, white, or blue

• Personal Finance seal: green, white, or gold

Last year, I purchased the U of A and Pima CC cords. I will consult with our CCCC to find out if we have any students who are receiving any of the seals and if there are cords that will be delivered along with the actual diploma seals. I will also coordinate with Pima CC to make sure they are purchasing their cords for students this year, I believe the U of A dual enrollment cords have already arrived.

Yearbook

The yearbook is discounted to $75 for a limited time. The next price increase will happen on 2/28 with the book going up to $95 until 3/27. Purchase your yearbook soon if you are hoping to purchase it at a lower price.

Please purchase at this link: Lifetouch Purchasing. The UHS school code is 15096126.

Senior Families Only:

To purchase your senior a tribute in the yearbook, you will find the option “Purchase an Advertisement for My Student” on the Lifetouch website.

To purchase your senior a tribute in the yearbook, you will find the option “Purchase an Advertisement for My Student” on the Lifetouch website: Lifetouch Purchasing and the UHS school code is 15096126.

• There are four different options at various price points (all a fundraiser for yearbook - thank you!)

• There are a limited amount available, so do not delay ordering if you want to do this.

• Select the size you want.

• Select the layout you want.

• If you want your own design, create a collage in something like Canva.

• Save as a large/high quality jpg and upload your design in the single image option.

• You can save your work and come back to it, but you must submit by Feb. 2nd, 2026 to be in the yearbook before publishing.