EDUCATION

Fort Smith high school seniors walk the stages, outdoors

Rain doesn't stop commencement outside

Fort Smith Southwest Times Record
USA TODAY NETWORK

Southside High School graduation was Thursday night at Jim Rowland Stadium.

Northside High School graduated their seniors in a commencement delayed by rain Friday night at Mayo-Thompson Stadium.

There were 400 Southside High School students who graduated in 2023. There were 353 Southside graduates in 2022.

Southside High School senior fist bumps Assistant Principal Jeff Mosby at Thursday night's graduation. Southside High School seniors graduated Thursday, May 18, 2023 at Jim Rowland Stadium in Fort Smith.

At Northside, there were 543 graduates for 2023. Last year, there were 580 graduating seniors in the Northside High School the class of 2022.

The threat of severe weather Friday delayed the Northside graduation an hour, but the commencement ceremony took place outside after officials considered moving indoors before the storm system moved east.