Graduations this week stream live online

MAT-SU — Every day this week, seniors from schools across the Valley will participate in graduation ceremonies at the Menard Sports Complex.

But, in this age of the Internet, the festivities are no longer confined within the complex’s walls. The pomp and circumstance will be broadcast around the world via live streaming video on the Internet.

“In the past it has been popular with parents or grandparents who maybe can’t come,” school district spokeswoman Catherine Esary said. “Parents or grandparents, or relatives out of state, can log on and see their family members.”

Jackie Kenshalo, with the Matanuska Telephone Association, said MTA donates a robust internet connection at the sports complex for the school district to use.

But, she said, the actual filming is the job of Brian Mead and kids at Colony High School.

“We’re pretty fortunate to have a school district that believes in that kind of stuff,” Kenshalo said.

She said that MTA also airs the graduations as content on its local channel 310. MTA cable subscribers can find it there. The channel has had connections with the district from the start.

“Years ago, when we started the channel, the district was really supportive of MTA and allowed us to feature the high school sports and the high school events,” Kenshalo said.

MTA also hosts the sales of DVDs of the graduations, which you can buy online for $10 apiece.

The list of high schools that will get the full streaming treatment this year includes Houston, Colony and Wasilla, plus smaller ceremonies like those for Mat-Su Central School, Career and Tech High School, Burchell High School and Valley Pathways.

Notably absent is Palmer High, which holds its graduation at the school. It won’t be live streaming but it will get a DVD.

“They hire a production company and they film it,” Kenshalo said.

A full schedule of graduation ceremonies is available from a link on the school district’s homepage at matsugov.us.

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.