Graduation Changes at PVHS Aim to Prioritize Safety, Comfort, and Student Celebration

Graduation day at Pahrump Valley High School has long been a proud tradition, drawing students, families, and members of the community together in celebration. But as the student body and town continue to grow, this annual milestone has become more complex to manage. In response, PVHS Principal Desiree Veloz in collaboration with local authorities, NCSO and Pahrump Fire and Rescue, are aimed at preserving the spirit of the event while ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone involved.

The tipping point came during last year’s graduation ceremony, when the stadium was overwhelmed by the crowd. Bleachers were filled beyond capacity, walkways were obstructed, and guests stood four deep along the fence line. With more families still arriving, school officials were forced to close the gates, leaving some unable to see their graduates walk. “There was concern the bleachers were going to give way,” Veloz said. “We were at capacity, and people were stressed.”

That experience prompted discussions over the summer and continued into the new school year. By the time the first senior meeting was held, a new plan had been formed—and it included limiting each graduate to seven guest tickets. The announcement marked a shift from the open-access format of previous years and was understandably met with some disappointment. Still, administrators knew a change was necessary. The goal was simple: to ensure students could be safely celebrated by their families, without the chaos of overcrowding.

To better manage the crowd, the school collaborated with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office and Fire Chief Scott Lewis to analyze venue limitations and safety codes. One of the first steps was assessing bleacher capacity. Rather than relying solely on standard measurements—which typically allow 18 inches per person—the school applied a more realistic formula to reflect the true number of safely usable seats. This resulted in a cap of 1,100 seats on the home side and 100 on the visitor side, for a total of 1,200 bleacher seats. Field seating remained available, but only by the grace of an extra year. Parents were able to select to be entered into a lottery for additional seats, and the original number of 7 seats per graduate was increased to 8.

Managing field seating introduced its own set of challenges. Fire code requires chairs on the field to be interlocking—a safety measure intended to prevent chairs from shifting in the event of an emergency. For this year’s ceremony, the school was granted a temporary solution allowing them to zip-tie their current chairs together. However, that won’t be permitted in future years. “We’ve been told we need to replace all of our chairs with ones that meet compliance,” Veloz said. “And that’s going to cost upwards of $120,000.”

The original chairs were purchased years ago through community donations, with families sponsoring them at about $10 each. Today, compliant interlocking chairs cost closer to $75 apiece. To meet the estimated need of 1,500 chairs—including those for graduates and staff—the school plans to launch a fundraising campaign and seek community support. “We think we can get there,” said Veloz. “Maybe families or businesses can sponsor chairs again or we can organize fundraisers through the graduating class.”

In the meantime, the school introduced a lottery system for additional bleacher tickets. Families were invited to participate through a survey, and those randomly selected had a designated window to purchase their tickets before the next round was drawn. “We didn’t have the manpower to manage an open sale,” Veloz noted. “This gave families a fair chance while keeping the process manageable.”

This year’s ceremony will also feature additional measures to control the flow of people and maintain safety. Attendees must be seated—standing along fences or in walkways won’t be permitted. Once the home bleachers reach capacity, guests will be redirected to the visitor side, which offers a side view of the stage. Although not directly in front of the podium, the stage orientation and graduate procession routes were designed so guests on both sides will have opportunities to see their students cross the stage.

Gate management is another key element. In the past, several gates were locked during the ceremony. This year, all gates will remain open but will be monitored to control access and ensure a clear exit path in case of emergency. Field seating gates will close at 7:45 p.m., with no late arrivals permitted in that area to maintain clear pathways for the graduates’ entrance.

To ease traffic congestion and reduce parking stress, the school will again offer shuttle service from J.G. Johnson Elementary School, just as it did last year. “The shuttle system worked really well,” said Veloz. “People appreciated not having to search for parking or walk long distances in the dark after the event.” The main student lot will still be available for general parking, while the front lot near the school will be reserved for handicap access.

Accessibility remains a high priority. The front row of bleachers will be designated for those with mobility needs, and the school has made efforts to accommodate wheelchair seating on the field as needed. “We ask families to let us know if they need special arrangements,” Veloz said. “We’ll always do what we can to make it work.”

While the school has taken every possible step to prepare, officials also acknowledge that not everyone will be able to attend. In years past, graduation was treated as a community-wide event, with alumni, former teachers, and town residents dropping in to celebrate. “We want to keep that small-town, family feel,” Veloz said. “But we’ve simply outgrown what our space can hold.”

To help bridge the gap, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the NFHS network for free, and KPVM will record the event and make DVDs available for purchase. For extended families and friends who can’t attend in person, it offers a way to still be part of the moment.

Throughout this process, Veloz emphasized that the decisions were made with students and families at the forefront. “We care deeply about our kids and this community,” she said. “We want to celebrate them properly—and safely. That’s the heart of every change we’ve made.”

As graduation day approaches, PVHS is working to ensure that it remains a meaningful and memorable experience. While adjustments have been necessary, the commitment to honoring the Class of 2025 remains unchanged. With thoughtful planning, community collaboration, and a continued focus on safety, the school is determined to make this year’s ceremony a celebration worthy of every student who crosses that stage.