Though it didn’t come with the grand ceremony of a normal graduation, Monday night’s unique diploma distribution gave a sense of normalcy to the Daviess County High School senior class that has had so many end-of-high-school rituals taken away from them due to the coronavirus.
Nicole Johnson, 18, said even though she thought COVID-19 robbed seniors of their milestones, the support from her teachers, family and peers made her feel better about the situation.
“I felt really good, but I’m a little bit sad that I didn’t get to have real graduation where I got to see all my friends,” Johnson said. “But I’m grateful that we at least got to have this. It’s better than nothing.”
Families had been assigned time slots to arrive on campus and instructed to remain in their vehicles until they reached the staging area. The seniors then got out to receive their diplomas and walked across the stage as a family member followed to take pictures from afar.
Johnson’s brother jumped out and to took pictures while her family stayed in the car and drove by slowly as she walked the stage, which was lined with a red carpet. Johnson said her family was excited and cheered for her, and that “it was short and sweet.”
This scene was repeated for family after family.
Daviess County Public Schools Superintendent Matt Robbins and some faculty, teachers and staff were present during the ceremony.
Robbins said the imagery is different compared to a usual graduation ceremony, but the festivity was still in the air thanks to DCHS setting up the event.
“I find that it seems like everybody is enjoying themselves and celebrating it in a very festive occasion, so it’s a little different but I found it to be pretty neat,” Robbins said. “The spirit of graduation is here tonight, and I think that’s what we’re really trying to accomplish.”
Robbins said DCHS will create a special video of the ceremony to help students commemorate the event.
Johnson said despite not being able to see her friends walk the stage, not being able to see them walk the halls at DCHS has been the toughest part.
“The saddest part has definitely been not getting the closure,” she said. “Getting to walk the halls one last time, getting to say goodbye to my teachers, having those last days in the school building with my friends. But the happy part has been the creativity that has come out of this.”
DCPS has previously announced they will delay in-person graduation ceremonies until such a time as restrictions on large public gatherings are lifted. Information will be communicated to graduates and their families as those opportunities become available and details are finalized.
—
Click here for all of our coronavirus coverage.
The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
