HOPE — Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School staff honored its Class of 2020 with a 40-minute virtual commencement ceremony which was posted Thursday for graduates and their families.
The graduation video followed an earlier 17-minute YouTube presentation posted online for the Class of 2020 which featured greetings and words of wisdom to the graduating class from Hauser staff, wishing the class members well.
Since COVID-19 closed the campus in March, the video became the teacher’s way of saying goodbye to the 54 Hauser graduates.
But on Thursday, Hauser’s YouTube channel turned the spotlight on the graduating seniors when it debuted a 40-minute virtual commencement ceremony.
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The processional featured six to seven seconds of each graduate walking in front of the gym bleachers, where family and friends spaced at least 6 feet apart, looked on and cheered.
In his address, Hauser valedictorian Samuel Johnson, 18, said that several weeks of eLearning from home has brought isolation, tedium and exhaustion to his class.
But after optimistically adding that even a virtual commencement has magic, Johnson urged his classmates to view graduation as an opportunity to set new goals that result in new achievements.
“Because it is the achievements of our lives that make our sacrifices worth it,” Johnson said.
After acknowledging her high school years didn’t turn out as she expected, Hauser salutatorian Carly Archer confided that, like many in her class, she’s not sure what she wants to do with her life.
But after experiencing hardship and changes, Archer said she believes many in the Class of 2020 have learned not to fear what the future holds for them. Instead, Archer said it’s time to focus on what’s happening right now, and never let a fear of failure prevent them from taking advantage of every moment.
“Go and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes,” Archer said. “Break rules, and leave the world more interesting by being here.”
Three graduates were named as recipients of top senior awards. The Marcia Schwenk Distinguished Character Award was presented to Melanie Taylor, while the Golden K Kiwanis/Will Comer scholarship went to Natasha Knight. Senior Leah Joyce was chosen as the recipient of the Meridian Kiwanis scholarship.
Twenty seniors were awarded financial help from various scholarships handled through the Heritage Fund — The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
In total, Hauser’s Class of 2020 received more than $816,000 in scholarships and grants, Principal David Wintin said.
While the principal expressed regret that the class didn’t get the traditional celebrations they deserved, Wintin told the graduates that a high school diploma is just a stepping stone on the pathway of life.
“It’s what you do when you leave here that matters,” Wintin said. “How you take on challenges in your life, and convert them into successes. That will be the true expression of any legacy that you achieve.”
Most of the filming of the presentation took place on Monday, May 11, when seniors came back to campus to drop off school-owned property and settle financial accounts and to bid Hauser farewell.
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Size of class: 54
Class president: Elijah James Thomas Heslop
Valedictorian: Samuel Johnson
Salutatorian: Carly Archer
Class sponsors (staff): Aleesa Dickerson and Becky Voyles
Class motto: “In three words, I can sum up everything about life: it goes on.” – Robert Frost
Class colors: Black and white
Class flower: Cactus
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The Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School graduation video is available on the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. YouTube video channel.
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