Picture day starts graduation celebration at Airport High
About 300 seniors at Airport High School walked across a stage in their graduation caps and gowns on Wednesday, but it wasn’t their graduation day yet. Wednesday was the second day of filming and photographing at the school to produce a televised, virtual graduation ceremony that will air on Saturday, June, 6.
South Carolina state officials have left it to school districts to plan for graduation while taking necessary precautions with social distancing to stop the spread of coronavirus. “We talked of every possible option, but never stepped away from our foundational desire to keep it safe and keep it responsible,” Airport High Principal David Damm said.
Groups of graduates and their parents were spaced several feet apart as they approached the stage. The students took their turns, walking across the stage, receiving their diploma case and getting photographs made. These images will be put together in a video along with speeches by Principal David Damm, valedictorian Ashleigh Smith, salutatorian Rose Brandon, Student Body President Katie Kyzer, and Senior Class President Geena Rocanella.
“There’s some element to it that we hope is special…We are trying to provide the graduates with a memory, a video of their graduation, but do it in a way that keeps people apart and safe,” Damm said.
“I’m just glad to have had a ceremony, even if it was small,” Julion Brooks said after walking across the stage. His parents, Shaquana and Lamar Brooks, made photographs while wearing T-shirts honoring the class of 2020 — “delayed not denied” — printed across the front.
At Lexington District 2’s other high school, Brookland-Cayce, students will have a similar opportunity on Thursday, May 14. Other efforts to help honor the class of 2020 include yard signs, billboards, social media and a countywide porch light salute on Wednesday, May 20, at 8:20 p.m.
Virtual graduation ceremonies for the two high schools will air online and on local television Saturday, June 6, the Lexington 2 school district announced this week.
They will be broadcast together from 5-7 p.m. June 6 on WACH-Fox 57. They will also be available for streaming via STIRR, a free TV app. The presentations will be posted on the school district’s YouTube channel after they have aired.