The Senior Class of 2020 has had a year like no other! For many of them, the year has brought highlights that they will remember for the rest of their lives, personal achievements, recognition for sports, academics, and extra-curricular activities as well as friendships and mentors that they will always remember. But this year they have one unifying factor that they share with all of the seniors in the state, as well as many other states throughout the country and countries throughout the world. All of these seniors in the Class of 2020 have had to give away many rights of passage that were available to the generations before them to protect the lives and communities in which they live from a viral outbreak the likes of which have not been seen in the world since at least 1918.
We think Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says it best – “It would be far better to look at not what was taken from you, but what you gave. You gave it up to save the lives of your fellow Ohioans. You gave it up knowing that, in all likelihood, you may have been fine — but others would have been in peril,” DeWine said. “In these next few years, look around your table. Keep your eyes up in your community. See them. Know that there are people who will be with us for years to come — people who are so precious and so valuable. They will be here because of what you have given away.”
Tri-Valley High School is still planning on having a commencement ceremony, they are just doing it in a much different fashion. They will be holding a “Virtual Graduation” that will contain as many of the traditional components as they can but it will be filmed from May 11 – 13 with the graduates receiving their schedules to attend separately and with only four extra attendees per person. The graduation ceremony in its entirety will be available on May 22 via free download from the Tri-Valley School District’s website.