Desoto HS holds graduation outside despite rainy weather

Despite the rain, the graduating class of DeSoto High School had their graduation at an outdoor stadium.

The school’s superintendent decided to keep the graduation ceremony at Eagle Stadium after several parents and students complained about moving the ceremony indoors, where seating would've been limited.

Plan B was to hold graduation inside of a church, but students would have only been able to invite six guests as opposed to unlimited guests outside. So after weighing the weather forecast and students’ opinions, the superintendent opted to stick with the original plan.

More than 600 DeSoto seniors, including Angel Mendoza, were determined to graduate Thursday night, rain or shine.

“I'm pretty excited because I've been waiting for this moment,” said Mendoza. “I want to see where life takes me after I graduate.”

The decision to keep graduation outside, as previously scheduled, came with a high risk of rain. It was something the DeSoto ISD Superintendent took very personally.

"I am a parent and like I said, my daughter was really like she really wanted to have it here, as well,” said Superintendent Dr. David Harris. “And I think it all started from students that we actually have it here in the stadium that the students want to have it at their home."

Parents we spoke with didn’t seem to mind.

Shortly before graduation began, a light, constant rain fell over the open-air venue.But that didn't seem to damper the festivities. Dressed in their cap and gown and armed with a towel for drying off, the students took their seats.

For proud relatives in the stands, it's what was happening on the field that mattered most.