What You Can and Can’t Bring to Don Haskins Graduation Ceremonies

Cue the happy tears, graduation caps, and endless photos because graduation season has officially arrived in El Paso!

Over the next few weeks, thousands of students from El Paso-area high schools will walk across the stage and receive their diplomas and while families are busy planning celebrations, parents are being reminded to double-check ceremony dates, times, and venue rules before heading out.

Many of this year's graduation ceremonies will be held at the Don Haskins Center on the UTEP campus. School officials are urging attendees to familiarize themselves with the venue's clear bag policy and prohibited items list to avoid delays or being denied entry.

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CLEAR BAG POLICY DETAILS: 

I’m going to start with the big one. Purses or bags. I say this is a big one because it never seems to fail that I see someone getting denied access to enter the venue because they were not aware of the clear bag policy.

Clear bags are allowed in the venue and so are small purses, but they must be a certain size.

If you take a big purse that is not clear, you will not be permitted to enter the venue at all. 

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Don Haskins Center: PROHIBITED ITEMS

• NOISEMAKERS
• HELIUM BALLOONS
• LARGE SIGNS/BANNERS
• OUTSIDE FOOD/DRINK
• GLASS CONTAINERS
• PROFESSIONAL CAMERAS
• VAPOR PRODUCTS (E-CIGS)
• CAMERA TRIPODS, STABILIZERS
• DRONES
• AIRHORNS/WHISTLES
• STROLLERS
• CONFETTI
• UMBRELLAS
• SELFIE STICKS
• LASER PENS
• CAR SEATS
• PETS

Sun Bowl Stadium: Prohibited Items

• Aerosol cans
• Animals (service dogs or service dogs in training permitted)
• Artificial noisemakers
• Balloons
• Bats, poles, and sticks
• Car seats and baby strollers
• Coolers/ice chests
• Camera lenses larger than 4"
• E-cigarettes
• Firearms and fireworks
• Flags on poles
• Glass bottles
• Illegal drugs
• Laser pointers
• Lawn chairs
• Missile-like objects
• Objects that can be used as projectiles (i.e. balls)
• Outside food and beverages including alcohol (exceptions will be made for those with medical requirements and special needs)
• Scooters, strollers, bicycles, roller skates and skateboards
• Tobacco products
• Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks
• Umbrellas
• Unauthorized video cameras and drones
• Water bottles (one sealed, plastic water bottle permitted per patron)
• Weapons
• Any object that might pose a risk to the guest or others. The guest must throw the prohibited item in the trash or return the item to his/her vehicle.

ALLOWABLE ITEMS

• Blankets
• Stadium seat cushions must be 16” in width or less
• Bags (including clear backpacks) that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12"
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bag (4.5" x 6.5" or smaller), with or without a handle or strap. This can be carried separately or within a plastic bag
• Medical bags that contain health necessary items are acceptable after proper inspection and approval from venue personnel/security
• Trained service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are welcomed at the Don Haskins Center. Service animals must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times, unless special circumstances exist, and are required to rest in the seating area of the guest with the disability, rather than the aisle. Guests may take their service animal outside of the venue to relieve themselves but must speak with a Guest Services Supervisor before leaving the venue. A guest whose service animal poses a threat to the safety of other Arena guests and employees may be asked to escort the animal off the premises

Families attending El Paso High School's graduation at Jones Stadium or ceremonies held at Sun Bowl Stadium should also review venue-specific restrictions before arriving.

Tuesday, June 2

• 3 p.m.: Mountain View High School
• 7 p.m.: Horizon High School

Friday, June 5

• 8 a.m.: Mission Early College High School
• 11 a.m.: Pebble Hills High School
• 3 p.m.: Socorro High School
• 7 p.m.: Americas High School 
• 8 p.m.: El Paso High School, Jones Stadium, 1600 N. Virginia St.

Saturday June 6

• 9 a.m.: Eastlake High School
• 1 p.m.: El Dorado High School
• 5 p.m.: Montwood High School

Monday, June 8

• 8 a.m.: Young Women’s STEAM Academy
• 9 a.m.: Options High School, Socorro ISD Student Activities Complex II, 1300 Joe Battle Blvd.
• 11 a.m.: Andress High School
• 3 p.m.: Coronado High School
• 4 p.m.: Community Education completion ceremony, Socorro ISD Student Activities Complex II, 1300 Joe Battle Blvd.
• 7 p.m.: Franklin High School

Tuesday, June 9

• 8 a.m.: Transmountain Early College High School
• 11 a.m.: Irvin High School
• 3 p.m.: Austin High School
• 7 p.m.: Chapin High School

Wednesday, June 10

• 9 a.m.: Bowie High School
• Noon: Jefferson/Silva High School
• 3 p.m.: College, Career Technology Academy, El Paso High School, 800 E. Schuster Ave.
• 6 p.m.: Burges High School