As graduation approaches seniors will be walking across the stage and will receive their diplomas after emptying their pockets and parents for their last year of high school.
All seniors have to pay $70 to cover graduation fees. Senior class principal Jenn Sebold says the $70 fee covers many expenses for graduation day and events.
“The fee covers more than just a cap and gown. It covers your gown, the rental of the place where graduation is held and decorations and flowers, and all the stuff we buy, and it covers your diploma. So it covers a whole lot of stuff,” Sebold said.
Senior year can be a very expensive year for students with paying graduation fees and paying for other things like parking passes, Prom and Homecoming tickets, and the yearbook. Senior Andy Hertlein says senior year has brought a large amount of expenses.
“Personally, my parents have had over $700 in expenses just because I’m a senior. That number doesn’t include fees and fundraising for playing sports at South, or Dual-Enrollment/AP Classes,” he said.
Another senior, Joanna Ripper, has felt that every year in high school has come with some expenses but nothing compares to senior year.
“Every year there are lots of expenses but I feel senior year probably tops the past years because of additional things like senior pictures and graduation fees,” she said.
Ripper said she knew that senior year was going to come with a cost.
“I knew that there were going to be a lot of expenses this year, but I didn’t realize how much they truly were,” she said.
When it comes to paying for some of the cost senior year Ripper has paid for some of it herself and her parents are helping out as well.
“I have paid for some of the cost this year but I have been super lucky with my parents being willing to pay for most of it,” she said.
An early cost for seniors was parking passes, which cost students $80.
Hertlein has a parking pass and has not been satisfied with his experience recently.
“I do know that my parking situation has been very unfortunate this year. All of the snow was pushed into my sport last week, considering the $80 I paid for the spot and my parent’s tax dollars, I hope that it will be cleared soon,” he said.
Overall though, Hertlein feels that all these expenses will be worth it in the end.
“It is hard to know in the present however I do believe the majority of the money spent is worth it,” he said.
Hertlein is very thankful for his parent’s help and support in paying for a lot of the cost this year.
“My parents have paid for the majority of the expenses senior year and I am very grateful for that,” he said.
Even with these expenses Ripper believes that it will be worth it and will create lasting memories.
“I do think the money spent for the senior activities will be worth it in the end for the purpose of having some last good memories with our grade,” Ripper said.