‘Century Club’ will graduate in EP Schools’ 100th year

Eden Prairie schools have come a long way in the past century.

From the one-room, wooden schoolhouses that dotted the former farming town, the district today has 9,000 students in six elementary schools, a middle school, an online K-12 school and a high school.

Now, the Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) Class of 2024 is set to graduate as the school district celebrates 100 years since the town consolidated its four one-room schools in 1924.

About 700 seniors, dubbed the “Century Club” by school staff, will hear their names called and walk across the stage to receive diplomas Friday in the University of Minnesota’s 3M Arena at Mariucci.

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Speakers will include Supt. Josh Swanson, EPHS Principal Nate Gibbs and student speakers. Linda Wallenberg, a veteran EPHS English teacher, was voted by seniors to be faculty speaker. Members of the school band, orchestra and choir will perform.

Plans are in place to mark the 100th anniversary of Eden Prairie Schools. The event space will be strung with anniversary-themed decorations such as banners and balloons, and videos about the anniversary will play at the start of the event.

Graduation-cap tassels will feature 100th anniversary medallions, and diploma covers will also mark the anniversary.

This will be the first EPHS graduation for Tamiko Thomas, one of the school’s three associate principals. Thomas, who joined the district a year ago from Eastern Carver County Schools, said, “It has truly been an inspiration to be joining Eden Prairie in this 100th year.”

She added, “Watching our students this year as they prepare for whatever their next steps are going to be is inspiring to any school administrator. I wish them all the best as they complete this journey and begin the next.”

Grace Becker, district director of marketing and communications, said, “Graduation is … a momentous occasion for our students. To have the opportunity to be all in one place and see the inspired journey that these students have taken, and watch them go out to their next steps, fills us all with a lot of pride.

“To have that pride build on 100 years of excellence makes this year really special.”

Doors open at 6 p.m. Seats are not assigned and admission is free. Seniors are scheduled to leave EPHS by bus at 5:30 p.m. and will begin marching into the arena at 6:50 p.m. The event begins at 7 p.m. Remote viewing will also be available via a live stream.

EPHS families with graduating students are encouraged to check school e-mails and visit the senior website and arena website for important information about timing, transportation, parking, bag restrictions, prohibited items and more.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that the Class of 2024 will graduate in Eden Prairie Schools’ 100th year, but is not considered the 100th graduating class since the school district only went up till eighth grade until 1929.