Most students spend their high school graduation waiting impatiently for two moments — the moment they’re handed a diploma, and the moment when hundreds of caps go soaring into the air amid boisterous cheers.
But for the Class of 2020, ceremonies are shaping up a little differently due to COVID-19.
For the safety of its students, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. is taking a different approach to graduation this year by splitting the event into two parts — “memorable experiences” events and virtual graduation ceremonies.
For each of the high schools, a “memorable experiences” event as Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts describes it, is a time set aside for students to get their picture taken onstage while also completing a few other end-of-the-year tasks and traditions.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
“We kept hearing over and over again that parents wanted something on the stage,” said Columbus North Principal David Clark. “And so, as we put our heads together, we decided that if we can preserve at least that little piece, then maybe we’ve accomplished something.”
At Columbus East and North, the “memorable experiences” event took place over three days (May 20-22 for East and May 26-28 for North). The gatherings were held on consecutive days to to prevent large numbers of students and family members from gathering all at once. Columbus East has a graduating class of 277 students; North’s is 424.
Clark noted that North required students and family members to wear masks and have their temperatures taken. Then, after turning in any items belonging to the school or BCSC, students took a picture onstage in their cap and gown, unmasked, with their diploma covers and Clark, who stood 6 feet away on the stage. The students then got to ring the traditional bell on their way out.
Columbus East’s event was similar, with students getting their photo op on the stage, as well as a chance to ring the senior bell. As they did so, they each got a unique gift — their own mallet to take home and decorate.
“They usually ring the senior bell after senior project presentations, but we didn’t have that this year because of the virus,” said Columbus East Principal Mark Newell. “And then we didn’t want to be sharing the same mallet, so they each chose their own mallet.”
The students at East also chose a “walk-up song” as they crossed the stage. Some stayed with the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” that was provided, but others chose to go for something a bit more humorous. One senior, Kaleb Walters, picked NYSNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” as his walk-up song.
“It’s been definitely different than I expected, but I feel like this is a better opportunity than what I would’ve had, because there’s a lot more photo ops,” said Lindsey Stoughton, another senior at East. “I got to walk with some of my friends that I’ve been with since I was young, so that made it a lot better.”
For CSA New Tech, which has a graduating class of 76 students, it was possible for all of the students to do their stage walk and take photos with Principal Mike Reed on Monday, May 11, while also being cheered on by the school’s entire teaching staff.
“I really enjoyed what CSA did,” said senior and commencement speaker Avery Larson. “Even though it wasn’t traditional, I think it was the best option for what we were able to do. And I really liked going and getting congratulated individually by my teachers.”
Also, after successfully completing their senior projects on May 19, 20 and 22, CSA New Tech senior students completed another senior milestone — standing on top of the school rock and having a picture taken.
In addition to these events, the school also held a separate event on Wednesday, May 27 for returning school items, as well as picking up diplomas, cords, certificates, scholarships and a special senior gift, a CSA Challenge Coin.
“It’s just kind of a commemorative coin, about the size of a silver dollar, that has our graduation crest on one side, and then the year and challenge accepted,” Reed explained. Columbus North is also giving a challenge coin to their students, though theirs features a different logo and design.
BCSC Communications Coordinator Josh Burnett said all three high schools will stream their virtual graduations online through BCSC’s Facebook page and YouTube at their originally scheduled dates and times — 7 p.m. on Friday for CSA New Tech; 10 a.m. on Saturday for Columbus North; and 1 p.m. on Saturday for Columbus East.
All of the video for these ceremonies will be pre-recorded, rather than delivered live. According to Roberts, each ceremony will include speeches from him, the school’s principal and any other leaders who would normally speak at graduation, such as a valedictorian or class president.
The virtual graduation videos are being compiled by Jim Roeder, a radio and TV instructor at Columbus East. Roeder said he came up with the idea of making a video version of graduation about just a few days before Gov. Eric Holcomb’s order to shut down schools. Roeder pitched the concept right away so that BCSC could begin making the project a reality.
Roeder credited Universal Design for Learning Facilitator Corie Williams with creating a helpful Google Docs form for seniors to submit with their information for the virtual graduation — including name pronunciation, spelling and a photo to be included in the video.
“I think we have a picture for all but, like, five, which is pretty amazing,” Roeder said. “Every school administration has been unbelievably helpful. And so, they’ll go into the yearbook, they found pictures if we didn’t get responses back from students.” He also stated that administrators and staff have recorded the sound of their applause so that he can add it into the video as a way to cheer on students.
However, BCSC staff aren’t the only ones who helped out; the templates for the video were created by CSA New Tech junior Alex Martin through his work in Adobe After Effects.
“He designed something, I altered the design, we kind of worked on it together a little bit,” Roeder said. “He really formatted the template that allowed this to be possible.”
He also noted that there might be a more comprehensive list of credits at the end of each video thanking those who made the virtual ceremonies possible.
“I want you to see everything you would see at graduation, exactly the same,” Roeder said. “It’s going to look a little different from the way the speeches are done, but I want it to be the exact same order. I want it to be the exact same feel, the same music. I mean, the goal is to replicate graduation in exactly the way it was, and the only thing you’re going to miss is walking across the stage.”
For some students, virtual graduation is a chance to celebrate a little differently.
“I’ll definitely be wearing PJ’s,” said Erica Song, a senior at Columbus North. “I think that’s the great part about having virtual graduation. I don’t really have to dress up.”
On the other hand, Avery said that he plans to wear his cap and gown to keep the event “as traditional-feeling as possible.”
However, regardless of their attire, both seniors plan to watch the event with their families and attempt to connect with friends over video chat, either during or after the ceremony. Lindsey also noted that one benefit to the virtual graduation is that she’ll be able to share the link with her relatives in Florida, who would have been unable to attend the event in person on a normal year.
Though the virtual graduation will likely differ from the experience of traditional commencement, Roberts expressed the belief that the event, along with the new traditions that have sprung up this graduation season, will mark the Class of 2020 as an unforgettable one.
“The students have accomplished something that is not easily done,” said Roberts. “And they’ve shown perseverance, demonstrated fortitude, and here they are. And my hope is that with the challenges of this nine weeks of time, that they will kind of put that aside and take time to celebrate.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”For more photos” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
To view more photos of graduation preparations, see therepublic.com.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Where to learn more” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
For more on Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. graduation ceremonies, visit bcscschools.org.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
