OBSERVER file photo Graduates line up for the ceremony at Karl Hoeppner Field at Dunkirk High School.

Dunkirk High School’s Class of 2022 saw two sets of older schoolmates graduate at Karl Hoeppner Field. Most of them want the same experience.

After a survey revealed it as the seniors’ preference, the Board of Education agreed last week to hold this year’s commencement ceremonies at the football field next to the high school.

The ceremony is set for Saturday, June 25 at 10 a.m. The rain date is Sunday, June 26, also at 10 a.m.

The school held its graduation ceremonies at SUNY Fredonia’s King Concert Hall for many years. It lost that option because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The district decided to hold the event at Karl Hoeppner Field because it was an open-air site and relatively easy to practice social distancing.

With COVID-19 still a fear factor in 2021, the ceremonies were held at the field again. Now, even with the pandemic subsiding for now, the field will host them a third time.

Rebecca Farwell, secondary school principal, told the Board of Education that seniors were surveyed on whether they wanted commencement at Karl Hoeppner Field or at SUNY Fredonia. About 150 students answered and only 28 chose SUNY Fredonia, she said.

She mentioned that graduating students love that they can ring the field’s iconic bell, salvaged from a 19th century Dunkirk school. They also appreciate and enjoy the cup displays honoring them in the chain-link fence around the field, she said.

The board agreed to go ahead with graduation at the field, after Farwell mentioned that SUNY Fredonia was holding a date in case the school district wanted to go there.