Chaos at Kansas High School Graduations
A graduation ceremony at Wichita High School East turned into a chaotic scene when a teacher attempted to enforce strict policies, resulting in uncomfortable interactions with students. On May 20, the event was disrupted as an administrator forced students into awkward handshakes on stage, causing distress among graduates and their families.
The incident involved two students, Key Henderson and Serena Gomez, who were both grabbed by the unidentified staff member. Henderson was approached after he appeared to walk past the administrator without acknowledging him. The official refused to let him go until he shook his hand before handing him a piece of paper. Around 20 minutes later, Gomez was also taken by the administrator as she tried to celebrate on stage. As she raised her hands in the air, the staff member grabbed her wrist and forced her into a handshake before giving her a card.
Gomez expressed her frustration with the situation, stating that the administrator’s actions ruined her moment and were unnecessary. Her aunt, Sabrina Duran, shared the video on social media with a strong reaction, calling the administrator “a b***h.” The footage sparked mixed reactions online, with some criticizing the administrator for being overly aggressive, while others believed he was simply trying to ensure every student received a handshake and a card.
In response to the incident, Wichita Public Schools released a statement defending the administrator. They claimed that the students’ on-stage celebrations violated graduation policies, which are clearly communicated to students beforehand. The statement emphasized the need to manage the ceremony efficiently so that all 500 students could have their moment to celebrate.
This incident occurred alongside another scandal at South High School’s graduation on May 21. The event, held at Wichita State University (WSU), turned chaotic when around ten students and teenagers got into fights on campus. Video footage showed police using pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The school district explained that the fight happened after most attendees had left Koch Arena, where the ceremony had taken place earlier in the evening.
WSU issued a statement regarding the incident, saying that officers responded to a physical altercation outside the arena. They intervened to restore order and prevent further escalation, but no arrests or injuries were reported. This event followed a similar incident at Chester Lewis Learning Academy’s commencement ceremony, where a fight also broke out.
Terrii Moses, Director of Safety and Environmental Services for Wichita Public Schools, commented on the previous fight, noting that large gatherings can sometimes lead to conflicts. She mentioned that while indoor events are easier to manage, releasing everyone at once can create opportunities for people to interact in ways that may not be positive.
“We’ve staffed all of our graduations, we believe appropriately,” said Moses. “We always debrief and work with our partners to determine better ways that we can provide security.”
