For a senior in high school, normally picking up the graduation cap and gown at the school would be no big deal. But this year is anything but normal. The pickup turned into a driveby for students and a tailgate for their teachers who cheered them on Friday, April 24.

“Overall the event went very well and I am grateful that our seniors had a chance to get even a little recognition and to the staff who helped make it special,”  Principal Rick Flaherty said.

Around 50 teachers lined the east parking lot with their cars from 10:00 a.m. till noon as seniors drove by to pick up their caps and gowns. Teachers had signs, balloons, and were honking their horns as seniors, some choking up or smiling,  drove by. Ifan videotaped and broadcast the event online.

“I think it went really great for the kids who came. They were definitely surprised and some got emotional which made staff emotional. It was nice to reconnect personally with kids. I wish more kids had shown up but understand for some that might have been a hard thing to do,” Marc Campbell, a teacher of seniors, said.

Senior Chasidy Wilkins was one of the seniors who found it emotional driving through the gauntlet of staff cheerleaders and their cars especially when she saw one of her teachers Kara Downs.

“Seeing everyone holding up signs and realizing that I wasn’t coming back is what made it very emotional for me,” Wilkins said. 

Not only does this make teachers and students emotional it also makes parents very emotional knowing that their kids will be going off to college pretty soon. Sherri Rude, senior Ailey Rude’s mom, had some words to say about the pickup. 

“We thought the cap and gown pick up was awesome and we were glad we could go with. This certainly isn’t the ending of the school year anyone expected, but anyway, that the seniors can still be recognized and celebrated is important. Thanks to everyone who put it together. Ailey was so excited to see everyone and wave and be cheered through the pickup line,” Rude said.

The cap and gown pick up was a big success and gave the seniors a little bit of the celebration feel during this tough time. This isn’t the ending they hoped for, but this way they can still be celebrated.