News

March 20, 2006 - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and the Charlotte Bobcats announced today that the Bobcats will host and cover the costs for three high school graduation ceremonies at Charlotte Bobcats Arena June 12, 13 and 14, 2006 as a pilot graduation program between the two organizations.

For 2006, Charlotte Bobcats Arena will host three graduation ceremonies, including Myers Park High School on Monday, June 12, 2006, South Mecklenburg High School on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 and West Charlotte High School on Wednesday, June 14, 2006. Graduation ceremonies will be held at 7:00 p.m.

“The Bobcats recognize that public schools play a vital role in our community and we’re proud to have them as one of our leading corporate partners,” says Frances Haithcock, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “This is an extremely generous offer, one that we’re very pleased to accept and one that our students and parents will certainly enjoy.”

The Bobcats will also cover the costs of the rehearsals for the three graduation ceremonies held at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Wednesday June 7, 2006 and Thursday, June 8, 2006.

“Education has been a foundation of our community engagement since we arrived in Charlotte,” said Ed Tapscott, Bobcats president and chief operating officer. “We have developed a strong partnership with CMS and support them through a variety of educational enrichment programs and special events. Providing expense-free graduations at the arena is one more way we can demonstrate our commitment to education and the students of CMS.”

Parking for graduates and their families for the ceremonies is being donated by the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Parking will be available at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center located at 600 East Fourth Street as well as the County lot located at 4th and McDowell Street.

“Having complimentary parking available this year for our students, teachers and families is an added plus that will certainly help ease the transition,” says Haithcock. “This is a great example of how our community can pull together to make things work for the benefit of young people.”

Officials from CMS and the Charlotte Bobcats will evaluate the efficiency and operations of this year’s graduations to determine if additional ceremonies can be added in future years.

Recognized as one of the nations’ top city-county school systems, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools serves more than 126,000 students from pre-school through grade 12.

CMS high school graduations are being held June 8-June 14 at a variety of venues. For an updated list, see the CMS website, www.cms.k12.nc.us.

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA), the Charlotte Sting (WNBA), and operates the widely-acclaimed Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which opened in the fall of 2005.

Contact:
Nora Carr, CMS, o: (980) 343-6274; c: (704) 491-3204, n.carr@cms.k12.nc.us
Jamie Banks, Charlotte Bobcats Arena o: 704-688-8789, c: 704-258-3901, jbanks@BobcatsSE.com