About 500 Blacksburg and Gaffney High seniors will graduate Thursday in the football stadiums of their respective schools, weather permitting.

A total of 103 Blacksburg High seniors will graduate at 6 p.m. in T.A. Campbell Stadium. School officials estimate approximately 400 Gaffney High seniors will graduate at 8 p.m. in W.K. Brumbach Stadium.

Should inclement weather occur, both schools will move the events into their gymnasiums. Candidates for graduation will be given tickets for admission to use should the ceremonies be moved indoors.

The Blacksburg and Gaffney High graduation ceremonies will be broadcast over the Internet. Family members can access the live video Webcast from a link on the front page of the district's Web site (www.cherokee1.k12.sc.us.)

Most students will receive the traditional South Carolina High School Diploma after earning 24 units and passing the state exit exam. Both schools will announce this year's scholarship totals at the ceremonies.

Gaffney High Principal Marlene Davis has released additional information about the school's procedures for parking, admission and seating.

"Graduation will be a formal affair. Therefore, the ceremony should be dignified," Davis said. "The graduates will file from the stadium as they exit through the tunnel, and then proceed to enter the left door of the band room. Graduates will exit the opposite door to greet parents and guests."

Graduate candidates, school faculty and district principals will park in the softball field off Chandler Drive. Parking will be available for parents and guests in the main parking lot beside W.K. Brumbach Stadium.

"Please contact (secretary) Tammy West if you have handicapped or special needs persons coming to the ceremony," Davis said. "We have areas designated to accommodate these situations."

If moved to the Gaffney High gym, Davis said graduation candidates will use the bus parking lot while faculty and principals will use the top parking lot. Faculty, school board members and administrators will park in the faculty lot.

Parents and guests should park in the lower parking lot beside the new Gaffney High stadium site.

All guests must have a ticket to enter the gymnasium for the graduation ceremony, Davis said. Overflow seating will be available in the 905 seat Gaffney High School auditorium on a first come, first serve basis. The ceremony will be broadcast onto a large screen