Thousands sign petition to move Manatee High School’s graduation to Hawkins Stadium

Shelby Eikel, a senior at Manatee High School, dreamed of graduating under the lights at Hawkins Stadium, just like the students who came before her.

“I think I’ve been on that field more than I’ve been at school,” she said. “Every Friday morning, we would paint an ‘M’ on the middle of the field, and we cleaned up the field after games on Saturday morning.”

Eikel’s dream would come true on May 16, if it weren’t for the COVID-19 pandemic. The School District of Manatee County pushed its graduations to late July and early August, just before the start of a new school year, in hopes of preventing the virus’ spread.

Six ceremonies were scheduled at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, across the Manatee River and miles from the place where Eikel formed her most cherished memories.

In elementary and middle school, before Eikel enrolled at Manatee High, she spent most Friday nights at the football stadium, located on the high school’s campus.

“We thought it was so cool when we were little to watch the cheerleaders on the field, the Sugar ‘Canes dancing,” she said. “We’d play on the hill behind the scoreboard and that was the cool hangout when you were in middle school.”

While some Manatee High alumni remember ceremonies at the convention center (formerly the Manatee Civic Center), there was a shift to Hawkins Stadium, where Eikel’s friends and family members have graduated for years.

Fearing that tradition would be lost, she sent an email to Superintendent Cynthia Saunders, who quickly responded. Eikel said the superintendent encouraged her to come up with an alternative graduation date and to garner the support of her peers.

It was late at night when she uploaded a petition to change.org. By morning, the petition had more than 200 supporters, and it surpassed 2,000 signatures within a week, Eikel said.

The petition had nearly 2,500 signatures by Friday afternoon, and Principal David Underhill heard from individual parents and former graduates who shared the same concern, according to district spokesman Mike Barber.

Barber said their message was clear, and that Manatee High would now hold its graduation on July 28 from 8 to 10 p.m. — under the lights at Hawkins Stadium.

“I can just imagine the community being stronger than ever, coming back from this, hugging if we can and being grateful to see each other,” Eikel said.

Eikel and thousands of other students left for spring break in March, expecting to return one week later. Little did they know, COVID-19 would force a statewide closure of schools, moving students online for the remainder of their high school experience.

For the Class of 2020, graduation is a chance to reunite with friends and to celebrate their persistence. Eikel said Hawkins Stadium was the only place to hold such a momentous occasion, and despite the naysayers, she took action.

“There were people who doubted me and students who said this wasn’t going to work,” she said. “To overcome that and put myself out there, it was definitely overwhelming and outside of my comfort zone, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Ethan McCormack, a senior at Manatee High School, was among her supporters. McCormack said his sister graduated at Hawkins Stadium in 2010, and he felt robbed of the experience.

“It’s where we spent our four years, working hard and earning our diplomas, surrounded by our friends and family in the neighborhood we grew up in,” he said. “It’s our home.”

McCormack and Eikel will soon realize their dream of graduating at the stadium, weather permitting.

There were concerns about holding an outdoor graduation in late July, especially when it comes to the rain and heat, so Manatee High reserved a backup date at the convention center.

“If I have to sacrifice getting a little wet from the rain or sweating, I will do it,” Eikel said. “As long as I can graduate on that field.”