HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – On April 2, CCPS Superintendent Chris Bentzel released a video to parents and guardians explaining that after discussion with Christian County and Hopkinsville High School seniors, their graduations will take place at the Stadium of Champions as it has in previous years, despite renovation plans.

At the most recent school board meeting, a relocation of both of the graduations to their prospective school gyms was approved, sparking an immediate outcry from community members and students. The majority of concerns stemmed from potential capacity issues. Bentzel said, “Since that decision, we’ve met with our seniors, we’ve listened to their concerns about that decision.”

Renovation plan for Stadium of Champions shifts

In conjunction with construction of the new Christian County High School, a renovation is set to take place on the Stadium of Champions before the 2026-27 school year. However, to now accommodate graduation ceremonies, construction will now be pushed until after Memorial Day and potentially last through Labor Day.

“There are still a lot of variables,” Bentzel told Christian County Now. At this point in time bids have not been accepted for construction and no work has begun. Other factors such as weather may impact the timeline for renovations. According to Bentzel, this adjusted plan may impact the first CCHS Tiger football game in August, in which case an alternate location will be found.

Plans for the stadium include improving the entrance, paving the gravel driveway, relocating fencing, installing new astroturf on the football field, and repaving the track around the field. It is estimated that the renovations at the Stadium of Champions will cost around $2 million. This additional cost paired with adjusted expenses changes the scope of the CCHS construction budget to $141 million.

Honoring final graduating classes of HHS, CCHS

“The class of 2026 is kind of stuck in the middle,” Bentzel said, referencing recent talks with seniors about a plan for graduation. “We want to make everything these last six or seven weeks of school about them and honoring them.”

These historic graduating classes will mark the final seniors to cross the stage before all students consolidate this fall at the new Christian County High School, which is in final stages of construction.

He explained that conversations with seniors were very productive, but it also revealed that students felt the district’s focus was more on alumni, incoming students, and construction of the new high school. Due to this, Bentzel added that they will shift the focus back onto the final graduating classes of each school through final events such as prom, senior walk and their senior trip. He said, “We are in the business of students first.”

Both graduations will take place on May 22 at the stadium. In the event of inclement weather, plans may shift indoors, as in years past.

  • Christian County High School – 5:00 p.m.
  • Hopkinsville High School – 8:30 p.m.

| EDUCATION NEWS: Read more from Christian County Schools