Graduation is always a big event in Garretson, and this year was no different in that respect. Because of the 2020 pandemic however, this graduation ceremony was held outdoors. Thanks to a generous joint sponsorship from Alliance Communications, First Bank and Trust, and Nordstrom’s Automotive, the production company, Sideline Productions was hired to host the event. They brought a portable stage, jumbo television screen, and concert professional sound system. So, in many ways, this graduation ceremony was the biggest and boldest blowout that has ever been put on by GHS. This allowed attendees to observe with as much social distancing as possible to minimize potential exposure to the coronavirus.
Rain had fallen most of the morning beforehand, making the original location in the soccer field impossible. Instead it was held in the gravel parking lot, the stage set before a sea of onlookers clustered into immediate family groups, spread out across the lot. Thankfully the rain stopped and the sun came out to shine.
According to valedictorian Jayden Clark and salutatorian Aftyn Heitkamp, their class was always been unique in its opportunities and hardships. Both young ladies said that their class always seemed to be a ‘day late and a dollar short,’ or ‘drawing the short straw’. Even HS principal Chris Long had to agree, and said that ‘they made a believer out of him.’ A t the same time, they have also gotten unique challenges and opportunities, and they didn’t dwell on the negative. Instead they remembered the good times and various challenges as obstacles that they conquered.
Their commencement speaker was this year’s Teacher of the Year in the Garretson District, Matt Schrank. In many ways, the school year could not have continued until the end without Mr. Schrank.
As the Tech Coordinator, he was the man responsible for helping the school to organize the distance learning that finished out the school year.
He had a very positive message about perseverance, and determination for the graduating class off 2020. Yes, precious time they would have spent together was simply gone. All the activities that they would have enjoyed together this past spring were gone. But he let them know how proud he was of what they managed to do during the worst of circumstances. And that he was confident that whatever they planned to do now, they were ready to make good decisions for themselves.
Instead of distributing flowers to their families and hugging all those around them, those flowers were given out after the graduate crossed the stage, and met their family at the eastern staircase. During the time when graduates usually go out to hug and shake hands with extended family and friends, Mr. Long asked everyone who had a phone # for a graduate to send them a text message of encouragement and friendship. Though the graduates were distanced to protect themselves, this proved impossible to enforce as during this time many got up to hug and shake hands with each other, though they refrained from doing so with the crowd or any outside their immediate families. As the list of graduates was read, School Board President Shannon Nordstrom shook hands with all, but sanitized his hands after every handshake (or hug in the case of his daughter Madisen).
As the ceremonies commenced, they asked the gathered crowd to allow the graduates to depart first and not to linger, again minimizing potential exposure. It was a good day out for everyone, and gratifying to give the Class of 2020 a good sendoff despite difficult and unprecedented circumstances.
For all photos taken during the ceremony, please check out our Facebook photo album. Printed 5x7 or 8x10 options are available for $5 and $7 each, respectively.
