OKEECHOBEE -- The Okeechobee High School Class of 2022 will be graduating on May 28, 2022. As in the last 33 graduations, the Okeechobee community will unite to offer  best wishes to the graduates, but in a totally different way.

Graduation is being scheduled for the morning of May 28. Event organizers know, in order to have the most participation in the event, it needs to be immediately after the ceremony, which isn’t going to work on that Saturday.

This year the “Grad Nite” party has been changed to a “Grad Party” event on Friday, May 27, immediately following the mandatory graduation practice on the campus of the high school.

This is envisionsed as a sort of field day event with food, games and gifts!

Seniors have been asked to fill out a “wish list” which will help organizers in the selection of the gifts to be given away. Volunteers are welcome to help that day.

Please contact Our Village at 863-447-0473 to do so or if you have any questions.

A celebration such as Grad Nite does not happen year after year without the support of the community, including people, organizations and businesses.

Our Village Okeechobee is once again the lead agency in putting on this event. Currently major sponsors are the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Kiwanis Club of Okeechobee, Rotary Club, Okeechobee Veterinary Hospital, Okeechobee Chapter of the DAR, Okeechobee Retired Teachers Association, Tobacco Free Partnership of Okeechobee, One Stop Party Shop, Children’s Services Council, Buxton Bass Funeral Home, Abney Building and Construction as well as many individuals.

Generations of seniors have participated in Grad Nite events to celebrate their achievement and organizers are doing everything they can to keep this tradition alive. 

Community members are asked to consider supporting this year’s  plan. To donated funds, please make your tax-deductible check payable to Our Village Okeechobee (EIN:47-3944280). Checks can be mailed to SouthState Bank, Attn: Tabitha Trent at 2100 South Parrott Ave., Okeechobee, FL 34974 or dropped off via the drive-thru. Please write "GRAD NITE 2022" in the memo line of your check