Unique goodbye

Cars lined up in rows.

Live-streamed speeches.

A socially distanced walk across the stage.

Saturday afternoon’s Jay County High School graduation ceremony wasn’t the event any member of the Class of 2020 would have imagined when they started their senior year in August.

But for the seniors who experienced the strangest ending to their high school careers in Patriot history, the drive-in graduation ceremony was a celebration of who they are and what they experienced.

“Nothing about this situation is ordinary but neither is our class,” said senior class president Devan Bennett in her opening remarks, referencing a year cut short by more than two months because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Together as Patriots, we are extraordinary. We are brave, and kind, and resilient. When the world hits us, we hit it back. In the face of adversity we rise, every time, and that is what we are here to celebrate.”

When plans for the drive-in ceremony came together about two months ago, they called for vehicles to drive past the stage to pick up diplomas. That’s how a trial run during Senior Honors Day on May 9 was handled.

But just over two weeks ago, with state restrictions being lifted, Jay County Health Department gave Jay School Corporation the OK to allow students to walk across the stage to receive their diploma jackets.

They were called from their vehicles row-by-row Saturday afternoon, lining up 6 feet apart on the right side of the stage, before taking their finals steps as Patriots.

“Amazing,” said senior class vice president Chase McFarland after he made his walk. “I don’t think it would have felt like graduation without that part. I’m just glad we got to do it.”

The ability to have a graduation ceremony at all was in doubt after schools closed March 13.

A week later, Jay School Corporation superintendent Jeremy Gulley committed to having a ceremony, and the drive-in concept came together in mid-April in consultation with senior class and student council officers.

“I’m just happy to see these kids come together one last time,” said Gulley as vehicles streamed out of the parking lot after the ceremony. “I’m proud of how everybody pulled together and made this possible.”

The seniors who spoke Saturday acknowledged their odd circumstances.

Mikele Suman, student council at-large representative, urged her classmates to not be defined by the pandemic in her senior commencement address.

In her invocation, Leah Hamilton noted the “uncertain and unprecedented” times.

And McFarland, in a nod to the style of Saturday’s event, asked everyone to “come together and give a big, proud honk to celebrate” during his closing remarks.

Students, spirits perhaps brightened not only by the celebration of accomplishment but also warm, sunny day, said they were happy with the outcome.

The favorite part?

“That it’s different,” said Bennett. “I know that’s the thing that’s upsetting a lot of people, but we’ll be remembered. We’ll remember it forever, more distinctively I think than other classes …”

“Our grandchildren’s grandchildren will talk about the class of 2020,” added senior class treasurer/student council secretary Reid Claycomb, “and how they had something so unique that probably won’t ever happen again.”