Graduation Information - Vel Phillips Memorial High School

Graduation Requirements

Before a student is issued a diploma, counselors must verify that they have met all graduation requirements. Counselors will be working closely with teachers to make sure students are passing and will reach out to students/families that are in danger of not passing a course required to graduate.

A senior with 20.5 credits earned by June 11th may participate in the graduation ceremonies with the understanding that graduation will not officially occur until 22 credits have been earned.

Students having earned less than 20.5 credits will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies.

If you have any questions or concerns about credits, please see your counselor to get clarification as soon as possible.

In order to earn a Memorial diploma a student must have earned 22 credits, including the following:

English – 4 credits
Social Studies – 3 credits
Science – 3 credits
Math – 3 credits
Humanities – 1 credit
PE – 1.5 credits
Health – 0.5 credits
Financial Literacy - 0.5 credits

Yearbook Information

SENIOR PHOTOS

The deadline for submitting senior photos was NOVEMBER 7, 2025.

SENIOR TRIBUTES

The deadline for submitting tributes was JANUARY 16, 2026.

YEARBOOK ORDERS

The deadline is January 31, 2026.

Yearbooks cost $50 and sold out last year, so ordering early is recommended. Orders placed by January 31, 2026 are guaranteed a reserved copy. Orders submitted after that date will only be available in person at yearbook distribution, subject to our limited remaining supply. To check if a yearbook was already purchased, log in to Infinite Campus: Menu > Fees > Filter by Type > Paid “Yrbk Mem.” If it does not appear, contact your student’s neighborhood office to confirm or arrange payment.

Questions or Concerns? Contact Joe Leibforth at jleibforth@madison.k12.wi.us

Caps & Gowns

If your student did not receive their packet from Midwest Scholastic for ordering their cap & gown, please contact Rachel Braun in the Wisconsin Neighborhood Office. All paper orders with checks must be mailed directly to Midwest Scholastic. Orders can also be placed online at www.mwscholastic.com/2026-vpm-store. Orders and payments must be made directly to Midwest Scholastic, Memorial will NOT accept orders or payments. ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT ORDERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED DIRECTLY TO MIDWEST SCHOLASTIC at questions@mwscholastic.com. Please make sure to place your orders before the end of February. A late fee of $15 will be added to orders beginning March 1, 2026.

If you would like to donate your gently used caps and gowns to our students in need for future use, you may bring them to the VPM Welcome Center during business hours.

Diplomas

Soon it will be time to order diplomas for the 2026 Senior Class. Please check Infinite Campus and verify that your name is spelled correctly. If your middle name is missing or your name is incorrect in ANY way, you must contact Rachel Braun in the Wisconsin Office at your earliest convenience. She can be reached by email at rcbraun@madison.k12.wi.us or by phone at 663-6101 (Monday-Friday 7:30-4:00). Please correct mistakes NOW! If it is wrong in IC, it will be wrong on your diploma.

Corrected diplomas and replacement diplomas cost $10 and must be ordered through Sherry Zander AFTER graduation.

Graduation Ceremony

Upcoming Events

2026 SENIOR CLASS CALENDAR

Date	Event	Time	Location
March 23 - March 27	Spring Break
April 29	Senior Celebration Day / Cap & Gown Distribution	8AM - 3:30PM	Atrium
TBD	Graduation Speaker Tryouts	3:45PM - 5PM	Auditorium
May 2	Prom	7:30PM - 10:30PM	Alliant Energy Center
May 4 - May 15	AP Exams	Various	Official Website
May 18	Senior Honors Convocation	7:00PM	Auditorium
May 25	NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
June 5	Senior Picnic	8:30 - 3:30PM	Governor Dodge State Park
June 6	Parent-Sponsored Senior Party	9PM - 12AM	Fieldhouse
June 10	Graduation Rehearsal - REQUIRED	12PM	Auditorium
	Senior Class Picture	following rehearsal	Main Gym
	10th Annual Senior Walk	12:30PM - 1:30PM	Feeder Elementary Schools
June 13	Graduation	10:00AM	UW Kohl Center

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