Class of 2020 Alternative Graduations: Drive-in, Virtual, and Other Socially Distanced Ceremonies

With the closure of schools comes the cancellation of most of the year-end activities. That includes prom, sports, and even graduation ceremonies.

Different alternatives have been thrown in by schools to make sure that the graduation will still be a highlight to a student's school career.

Some schools opted for virtual graduation, just like in Horry Country. However, parents and students are petitioning against it. As of writing, the petition already has more than 1800 signatures at change.org. 

Meanwhile, Tennessee's Johnson County School System thought of a creative idea for this year's graduation: drive-in graduations. They believe the plan is safe, socially-distanced, and is at the middle ground.

There are 154 graduating seniors in their school system, expecting to showcase their creativity positively.

According to Mischelle Simcox, the Director of Schools for Tennessee's Johnson County School System, "We wanted to figure out a way where they could have a formal ceremony, as a group. You want to be able to graduate with your friends and your cohorts."

Schools in Tenessee have been closed since March 16. Since then, the district has been thinking of ways to relieve the gloomy feeling of students who have been looking forward to year-end activities.

Other schools will follow suit

In Avery County in North Carolina, another school is also planning to conduct drive-in graduation.

A Drive-In Movie Theater in Chetek, Wisconsin, has also received calls about using their place for graduations. Its founder and operator, Paul Javier, said he would be glad to work with schools if the Department of Health would sign on the ceremonies.

However, for other schools that do not have a Drive-In Theater near their area, they plan to do it in another outdoor location, like a football field or a local park.

Graduating Seniors Commemorated in Another Way

In Poplar Springs in Florida, the high school principal thought of another way to make the graduating batch of their school feel special.

The principal, Farica West, had the pictures of the 30 students blown up and are placed on either side of the driveway that leads to their school. According to West, she felt she had to do this for them because the pandemic made them lose supposed memories of the prom or the graduation. West said, "All of those moments for these kids were wiped away with no closure nor end in sight."

Other Activities Celebrated Online

Aside from graduation ceremonies being canceled, or celebrated in another way, proms are also celebrated online. Al Roker of the Today Show threw a virtual one for the high school students in Nebraska, the Douglas County West High school. The seniors of DC West even had a special message from singer Demi Lovato.

On May 15, the #Graduation2020: Facebook and Instagram Celebrate the Class of 2020, will push through with Oprah Winfrey as the commencement guest speaker. There will also be messages from other artists like Jennifer Garner, Lil Nas X, Awkwafina, and Simone Biles.

Miley Cyrus will also be performing The Climb for the graduating batch.