Graduation Safety & Security: Tickets, prohibited items, know before you go

Families of District 191 seniors,

We want every student and every attendees to be able to celebrate this amazing accomplishment. To promote a safe event and to be prepared to respond in the case of emergency, district and school staff have and will continue to meet with safety personnel from the University of St. Thomas (UST)  and both Burnsville and St. Paul police departments. 

As host for large events, including their own upcoming graduation ceremonies, UST staff already have an extensive safety plan in place for Lee & Penny Anderson Arena, where this year’s Burnsville High School graduation will take place. We’re also counting on students and attendees to help by understanding and following safety guidelines and expectations. 

While all of the details won’t be made public for security purposes, here are some things you should know. 

Metal detectors at entrances; prohibited items

All attendees and all graduates will go through metal detectors before entering the arena. 

Graduates should not bring purses or bags. There will not be storage available during the ceremony. 

Attendees should be aware of the prohibited items list before attending the ceremony. Among other things, the list includes balloons, noisemakers, bags larger than 12”x16”x12” (including backpacks), and signs/banners. These items will not be allowed in the arena and should be left in your vehicle. 

Electronic tickets; only ticket holders allowed on campus

Only people with tickets should be on campus, and people who do not have tickets will be asked to leave campus. If you are gathering with more family after the ceremony, please do so away from campus.

We are using a new electronic ticket system to eliminate the potential for counterfeit tickets. Each student will receive 5 tickets for their family. A link for tickets will be distributed in early May. If additional tickets become available, a process for requesting a limited number will be shared closer to the date of the ceremony. 

On campus emergency communication

The University of St. Thomas has an Emergency Alert System in place to quickly notify the campus community of any dangerous situation. Guests and visitors can opt-in to receive alerts on their phones by texting “TOMMIEEVENT” to 59713.

More to Come

Coming soon: An inside look at the Lee & Penny Anderson Arena at St. Thomas University. Watch your inbox for the next Graduation newsletter in early May.. 

Go to BHS Graduation Homepage

Thank you for partnering with us as we celebrate your students’ accomplishments!