Diplomas in the Rain: Tennessee Grads Complete Outdoor Commencement

Two Tennessee high schools, Centennial and Franklin, held outdoor graduation ceremonies on a football field as a torrential downpour soaked graduates and families. Videos of drenched graduates circulated online, drawing criticism from parents who questioned the decision to proceed outdoors and called for a makeup ceremony, while a planned moment of silence for a deceased classmate was reportedly skipped due to the rain. School officials said forecasts and the desire to maximize attendance on campus led to the outdoor plan, though changing conditions prolonged the wet ceremonies.