Blackout ruins graduation ceremonies for Andress seniors

Lights out!

About 4,000 people were left in the dark at a graduation ceremony Thursday morning.

The Don Haskins Center was supposed to host the Andress High School graduation.
Instead, the power went out and thousands were left to sit and wait for hours.

ABC-7 crews were getting an earful from students and the family and friends of soon to be graduates.

They were angry, disappointed, and confused.

“All of the sudden the lights went out,” said parent Joanne De La Cruz.

“We didn’t really think the power went out,” said graduating senior Matice Taylor.

“Oh it’s because they want us in the dark so they don’t see us,” thought Dominic Robles.

As the emergency lights went on, the test of patience kicked in.

“We’re just sitting there waiting,” said Cruz.

“OK, like, ‘Just give us 5 minutes.’ Five minutes turned in to 30 minutes and 30 minutes turned into an hour and then an hour and 30 minutes,” said Taylor.

“They come back another 15 minutes, they’re still working on it, and we’re just waiting and then two hours later they send everybody home, that’s ridiculous,” said Manuel Mendoza.

Mendoza had traveled from Houston to watch his nephew graduate.

No power meant no air conditioning.

“Everyone was hot, everyone was mad. We didn’t have our phones on us so we couldn’t call our parents,” said Robles.

What upset many was the fact they waited several hours and then, the ceremony got cancelled.

“Very disappointing,” said De La Cruz.

“Horrible, pissed, mad,” said Taylor

Hundreds of people’s plans changed.

“Parties, gatherings, dinners, everybody has a plan, we all have a plan for tonight,” said De La Cruz.

The El Paso Independent School District changed the ceremony to be held eight hours later at El Paso High School and students didn’t like the idea.

“This is where all our families have walked the stage, we’re not going to have that same legacy,” said Taylor

“I’m kind of upset because that’s not really our school, no offense to El Paso High, it would be better we graduate here where it’s our decorations, our spirits here, where it’s supposed to be,” said Robles.

The lights came on 30 minutes after everyone left.

To add to the confusion, EPISD later announced the Andress High graduation was rescheduled to 9 p.m. at the Haskins once again.