2027 PHAA Graduation Ceremony
Tuesday June 8, 2027
Deadlines are May 24 (registration) and May 31 (purchases)
All PHAA graduates, from all over the state, are welcome to partipate in our annual graduation ceremony. We hope that you, your family, your extended family and friends can all come to celebrate with us this year!
Location: Bongiorno Conference Center, 430 Union Hall Rd, Carlisle PA 17013.
Schedule:
5:00pm: Optional Dinner Buffet in the Dining Center.
6:15pm: Graduates will gather to put on their caps and gowns, preparing to promenade together into the ceremony.
6:30pm: Ceremony in the Pennsylvania Room or the Activities Center (depending upon number of graduates):
- Processional. Graduates proceed into room and to front row (Pomp and Circumstance)
- Pledge of Allegiance.
- Invocation.
- Commencement Address.
- Graduate Performances and Speeches.
- Intermission.
- Awarding of Diplomas. Parents are called to front of room to present diploma to their student: One family member is invited to say something in honor of the student (3 minutes or less)
- Recessional. Graduates proceed from ceremony to the patio or to their trifolds where audience can congratulate them
Fees:
The prices for our 2027 ceremony have not yet been set, but they will probably be the same as they were for our 2026 ceremony:
- Ceremony Ticket. $6 per person (including the graduate). This is required!
- Dinner Buffet. $20 per person. The buffet is optional! [Note: Click here by May 24 to post medically necessary dietary restrictions.]
- Child Dinner Buffet. $10 per child (ages 5-12, children under 5 free).
From January 1 to May 31, you will be able to click here to buy tickets or order dinners in the PHAA Store.
Responsibilities of Graduates:
- Post Biography: In order to participate all graduates must register by posting a 50-100 word biography of themselves on or before May 24, 2027, so we will know who is coming. Click here to post your biography. (You don't have to get it perfect the first time; you will be able to easily edit it online until 3 days before the ceremony when it will become part of the written program passed out at the ceremony.)
- Performance or Speech: Graduates are invited to perform music or give a 5 minute speech at the ceremony about highlights of their homeschooling. Click here, on or before May 24, to post your performance or that you will be giving a speech.
- Trifold display: Graduates are invited to create a 'trifold display' visually sharing highlights of their homeschooling high school years. These will be set up in the room where the graduation ceremony will be held-- families will set these up before the ceremony begins (we will have ample tables set up for this).
The displays might include:
- Name of the graduate, name of hometown
- photographs-- at least one of just the graduate. Other photos might include family, friends, youth groups, etc.
- sample writings
- special certificates or recognitions earned
- future plans
- info on online classes, co-op involvement, dual enrollment
- extra-curricular activities-- drama, sports, music, the arts
- volunteer service work
- part-time work and internship experiences
- special adventures and travels
Click here to watch videos of recent ceremonies on our YouTube channel. [Note: Only students in our diploma program can graduate at the ceremony.]