WE ARE 2020 29
Graduation ceremonies go virtual, for now
By JOB VIGIL jvigil@nptelegraph.com Area schools plan to host graduation ceremonies online for now with in person, public celebrations tentatively set for summer dates. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdown of schools put a hold on what schools can do to honor their 2020 senior class. North Platte High School Principal Scott Siegel said much is still up in the air, but efforts are being made to give students a proper send-off. The celebration started with a video tribute May 17 “to honor seniors on what was their original commencement ceremony date,” Siegel said. If safety guidelines allow, there will be a commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. July 25 at the NPHS Athletic Complex. “If there are any type of limitations, we’ll split it up into smaller ceremonies,” Siegel said. “We’re just going to be as flexible as possible in order to get ceremonies through.” Siegel said the local, state and federal guidelines for social gatherings will determine how ceremonies will take place. If the limit is 50 people, he said the school would be able to accommodate. “Even at 50 we can honor a few students at a time, have room for their fam- ilies and then have just a couple people guiding the ceremonies,” Siegel said. “You’re talking about doing several dozen ceremonies over a couple of days.” The best-case scenario, Siegel said, would be one big ceremony, but the school will follow guidelines to ensure the safety of students, staff and fami- lies. Siegel said this is a difficult time for all involved. He said he is amazed at how well the seniors have handled everything. “Ninety percent of our seniors already have met their graduation require- ments,” Siegel said early in May. “They handled this as well or better, I’d say, than anybody. “I think it speaks a lot to their characteristics.”
He has received many emails from students. “It’s interesting because our students have been nothing but kind and posi- tive, thankful and appreciative,” Siegel said. “Even though, as adults, we think of all the things that they lost, the perspective I have is that they’re still so positive, hopeful people. It’s a really neat thing to see from that end.” Siegel said the students deserve a lot of credit for the way they have remained positive and realistic. “When people are faced with a crisis, you don’t know how they’re going to respond,” Siegel said. “But you’re just really proud to work with kids that are this mature, this smart and this caring at this stage.” Other area schools’ graduation plans: North Platte St. Patrick High School —The school hosted an online ceremony on May 10. A more formal graduation is tentatively set for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Hershey High School — A virtual graduation was posted on the school website, hpspanthers.org, and its YouTube channel on May 9. An in-person ceremony is tentatively scheduled at 10 a.m. Aug. 1 at the football/track facility. Maxwell High School —The plan is to hold a traditional graduation ceremony July 18. If restrictions do not allow for this, the school will set up some form of parade or online graduation on the same date to honor the seniors. Wallace High School —The school hosted a Virtual Honors Night on May 4. Graduation will take place at 11 a.m. Aug. 1, either traditional or virtual depending on circumstances at that time. Sutherland High School —The school hosted a virtual graduation ceremony on May 9. Seniors and parents only were able to view the ceremony online from their vehicles in the football parking lot. After the ceremony, a “graduation drive-by” took place through the town. Brady High School — Commencement is scheduled for 4 p.m. July 18 pending the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
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