The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-"It never fails, the hottest day of the year is always graduation day," spectators echoed jokingly last Friday at the Waitsburg Football Field. Instead of gathering in the Waitsburg High School Gym, as is tradition, friends and family of the Class of 2020 stood outside the field's fences and watched a socially distanced high school graduation.

If you've ever attended a WHS graduation ceremony, you know that they fall on what seems like the hottest day in spring, with the infamously long ceremonies starting later in the evening to combat the heat. In years past, each student was recognized for major accomplishments and scholarships and explosions of applause for military-bound graduates.

Tradition is something that Waitsburg takes seriously, unfortunately, a global pandemic wreacked havoc on many traditions this year. Prom, spring sports, club conventions, fairs and more have been cancelled leaving the Waitsburg School District staff, school board members, and community determined to make the best of the Senior Class' graduation.

Before any of the graduation festivities kicked off, Valedictorian Kailyn Lewis, Salutatorian Kirsten Miller, and Honorary Speakers Grace Coulston and Amy Farley met at the high school and, one by one, recorded their speeches. The speeches were shared on the school's website and Facebook page on Friday. On Wednesday students had cap and gown photos taken and an opportunity to record their favorite memories from high school.

"The home of the Cardinals will now be the home of future doctors, lawyers, technicians, marine biologists, and many more extraordinary careers," Kailyn Lewis said, during her speech. "What matters right now, despite what has been happening recently, is that we are all here together to recognize and celebrate our achievements, our triumphs, and our victories that we have made individually and as a class."

Thursday night before the graduation, WHS seniors heard from Michael Franzese. Franzese is the son of former Colombo crime family underboss, John "Sonny" Franzese. After being sentenced to 10 years of prison on racketeering conspiracy convictions, Franzese denounced the life of organized crime and became an author and motivational speaker.

On Friday, instead of gathering at the high school and rehearsing the graduation ceremony, WHS Seniors brought a variety of vehicles to Preston Park to decorate for the Gallery Drive through town. An anxious locker room wait until Pomp and Circumstance started playing was replaced by the sound of friends laughing and pickups and cars starting as the procession began to leave the park. The seniors were cheered by family, friends and as the seniors made their way through town on a carefully planned route to their unusual graduation ceremony.

The route ended on E.Tenth Street where the cars and trucks drove onto the track at the football field.

The students were driven, one by one in their own cars, to a stage that had been decorated by school board members Sarah Boudrieau and Christy House, class advisors Matt and Krystal Wyatt, Tracy Barron, and Tami Bohlman. Fred Hamann was the emcee for the ceremony, announcing each graduate and their post-graduation plans as they walked across the stage, diploma in hand.

"We can plan and plan all we want, but no matter how carefully we plan things can go askew. That doesn't mean we are worse off for it though, in fact, we may be better because of it," honorary speaker Grace Coulston said. "Learning to adapt to our surroundings is something that many species have done since the beginning of time. This has allowed the species to continue to survive and thrive. That is what we are doing now, adapting."

The graduation celebrations were all carefully planned working within the guidelines to protect everyone's health and well-being. Though the events of the day were an alternative to tradition, the determination and creativity of the school board, staff, families and community have created a few new traditions for our town to enjoy in the future. The colorful senior banners, posting the honor speeches for everyone to enjoy and the celebratory parade through town would be welcome new additions to WHS graduations. Congratulations to Waitsburg High School's Class of 2020!