The lights are shining. The music is playing. The cameras are flashing. And only three people are bothered about the idea that a particular senior’s name won’t be on the program: the student, the parent, and Wenatchee High School’s Office Manager Kim White.

In her 20 years of compiling the names for the graduation program, White said only once has one been omitted. To maintain this nearly spotless record at a school where about 400 or more seniors graduate per year, she, along with senior class adviser Brandon Harle, engage in a meticulous process of creating the program long before those first fireworks burst.

“No one knows half the of the things you do behind the scenes,” White said. “But I’m not the type of person who needs that recognition.”

For White, the work starts in March. This is when she runs the first list of seniors from Skyward for each counselor and Director of Special Education Penny Hedman to take off the names of those not intending to graduate at WHS, such as some home schooled students.

At the same time, she puts out a notice for all seniors to come in and make sure their names are correct.

“Sometimes, when kids are registered way back in kindergarten, maybe the school they went to put their name as Eddie Johnson and really it’s Edward Johnson and all through their school time it’s been Eddie,” White said. “But the graduation diploma needs to be their legal name.”

After receiving these revised lists from the counselors and students, making corrections, and ensuring accuracy, she submits all the names to the diploma ordering company, Jostens, usually by early April.

From then it is a waiting game up to about the last week before graduation of who will not graduate, or walk, and will need their names taken off the program. The counselors inform her of this information, and following school policy, students who will not graduate cannot walk, according to White. However, she said some exceptions are given to Running Start students whose final grades in required classes are not available prior to graduation.

Additionally, White creates the physical program, receiving the names from advisers of those students with special honors, such as Academic Challenge. She said the program featured student artwork in earlier years, though a lack of it and funds have led to a more generic format.

“I think the first few years I did [the program], I was probably really stressed because you know, you don’t want to mess it up because it’s a big deal, but no it’s pretty routine for me now,” White said. “The greatest thing is watching the kids, you know, get up there and get their diploma. It’s building to the excitement of the actual ceremony itself.”

The ceremony’s order is organized by Harle and the Senior Class Senate. The lineup differs only slightly over the years, according to Harle, such as how this year, the absence of one musical act will be filled with more staff retirees. In his seven years of heading the ceremony,  Harle said he aims to “straddle the line of professional and fun and relaxed” when it comes to the show.

“It’s really important for me that [the seniors] have a memorable night that’s all about emotion, happiness,” Harle said. “But when the music starts, I have no control.”

Even when the music starts and stops, White’s job isn’t finished. The following week, she identifies who owes fines and fees before Wednesday when they distribute the diplomas.

In the past, the diplomas use were distributed the night of graduation, but this changed due to efficiency. Likewise, students use to shake hands and photograph with an administrator, but over time, students personally requesting a staff member to do so gained popularity, and now it is the staff’s responsibility to keep track of those who are asked.

Despite the changes in mechanics, the emotional effect of the ceremony on the audience and its creators remains the same.

“I think the fireworks at the end is just the climax of everything; the pictures are so awesome,” White said. “Everybody is happy and hugging.”