Social Distancing: Ski Lift High School Graduation Held At New Hampshire

high school graduation New Hampshire social distancing

By Staff Reporter , Parent Herald Jun 15, 12:09 am

Photo: (Photo : Photo by PhotoMIX Company from Pexels)

Every high school graduation is supposed to be great. However, this year, the coronavirus made the graduation season a little sad.

School officials canceled most events, including graduations, but some schools chose to bring their game a notch higher through ceremonies that practice social distancing.

This year's high school graduations were not only a question of the best graduation song. It also asked which is the best socially distant one.

In New Hampshire, a ski lift graduation seems to be better than the others that practiced social distancing.

Social distancing in the ski lift graduation in New Hampshire

On Saturday, the seniors from Kennett High School and their guests attended the unique high school graduation.

The graduation venue is not the usual one for a ceremony.

Cranmore Mountain Resort lent their facility to the 174 graduates and their guests for free.

The students received their diplomas at the top of the mountain. While at the peak, someone captures the moment of every graduate.

The ski lift brought the graduates and their guests up to the hill. Then the lifts also brought down the graduates after receiving their awards.

The idea of this kind of high school graduation came from one of the parents.

The principal of KHS in New Hampshire, Kevin Carpenter, said that they felt it was something students deserve. That is because they have missed out on so much during their senior year.

The school used the mountains in the New Hampshire area to make things extraordinary for the graduates.

"It's not your traditional graduation, but it will be a special one for sure," Carpenter said.

In an interview with WMUR9, students described their graduation as memorable.

Kennett High School's Class of 2020 Valedictorian, Grace Jarell, said it is magical. She added, "I would argue that it is almost better than traditional graduation."

Another student, Raven McAuliffe, said that it is a feeling like no other. She also said, "I don't think I will ever feel it again."

Social Distancing During High School Graduations

Aside from the ski lift graduation, other schools also held ceremonies that observed social distancing rules.

Another high school in New Hampshire chose to have drive-by graduation. Students and their guests were riding their vehicles at the Magic Mile for the service.

This ceremony is not the only drive-by graduation in the country, as other schools also chose this type of celebration to ensure that the gathering is still practicing social distancing protocols.

Other schools chose to hold a virtual function. That is to ensure that all graduates will stay at their homes to avoid catching the virus.

Some graduation ceremonies are even attended or hosted by celebrities.

The pandemic has brought out the creative side of school leaders. They did this to make sure that everything will be as great as it is supposed to be.