For the past several years, Luella High School commencement ceremonies have been held in the football stadium, each graduate receiving tickets for guests to view from the bleachers, while all others are welcome to enter without a ticket and view from the track. There has been little to no activity detrimental to the commencement ceremonies with graduation proceeding this way. We understand there are always security concerns, however looking back, there have been no issues. In addition, it is a month before graduation; a change as drastic as a “no ticket, no entry” rule ruins graduation for majority of seniors’ families because most students need more than eight tickets. Parents and siblings alone consist of nearly eight people. With just five weeks until 2012 Commencement, majority of families have arranged for travel and lodging. It is too late for most airlines to refund tickets. This not only hurts our senior class spiritually, but it also affects families financially. Mr. Smith, you have been our biggest “cheerleader” all year. Such a last minute change will break our senior class. Graduation is what we’ve been working towards for 13 years and we are being stripped of our support. We comprehend that change is inevitable, but it is also unreasonable a month before the event. This could have been announced in August. The Luella High School senior class of 2012 and our families petition for the 2012 Commencement ceremony to be carried out as it has in the past: welcome to anyone who desires to be present for support, and tickets for bleacher seats.