More High Schools Streaming Graduations on Web

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 05/20/09

##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

More schools have begun streaming their graduations on the Internet, to provide a means for people who can't attend the ceremony in person to watch while it unfolds.

Sutherland Public School in Nebraska streamed its senior graduation live on the Internet using a free, ad-supported service from Mogulus. Superintendent Brian Maschmann told local paper the North Platte Telegraph that the district had decided to make the graduation available online after learning that a school in eastern Nebraska was doing the same to allow a parent who is serving with the military in Iraq to view the proceedings.

Maschmann told the paper that the graduation initiative was a pilot project that could lead to the broadcasting of sporting events and other student activities for the school district.

Eight high schools in Anchorage did Webcasts of their graduations with the help of AT&T Alascom. The company began hosting live Web coverage of significant community events in the state in 2007, when it broadcast high school graduations, the Alaska state high school football and hockey championships, and a military welcome-home ceremony. The company has also made the events available as archives.

In New Holland, PA, Garden Spot High School will be streaming its ceremony to viewers who pre-register for the service. As the school's Web site explained, "Since this technology is still in its early stages, it will be a beta project, meaning it's still in the testing process. If everything goes well, we hope to offer the Web stream for future graduation ceremonies." The stream was only going to be available to users running the Firefox Web browser and who had a broadband Internet connection.