Pandemic circumstances don't stop pomp at SV
JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley High School graduated 567 seniors Thursday and Friday in a ceremony altered to fit pandemic-induced regulations.
While the event might not have been what many graduates dreamed about, it allowed families to commemorate a turning point in their children's lives.
“I don't believe milestones should pass us without celebration and reflection,” said Tracy Vitale, district superintendent. “We were determined to give every student their moment with all the pomp and circumstance.”
“I think it's the best that we could have hoped for,” said Kristin Hanks, who stood with her family on the bleachers of NexTier Stadium to watch her daughter, Corrine, graduate Thursday.
The Hanks family was among those who drove through the Seneca Valley campus down to the football field at times scheduled alphabetically according to last name.
Although not all district personnel and faculty were present during the event, many arrived early Thursday morning to install inspirational signs for students.
“(It was) an early morning for everybody,” said Jeff James, district supervisor of safety and security.
James said district families were asked to vote whether they wanted the ceremony to take place on the football field or in front of the school.
Planning the last three weeks — which included graduation, the retrieval of personal belongings and turning in school property — of the school year took about three weeks, James said.
James said district officials originally expected the ceremony to run more smoothly Friday than Thursday since the former day was the first run-through.
But Thursday went very well, according to James. By 3 p.m., students with last names through “H” had received their diplomas. That was despite a two-hour delay due to rain.
“We didn't need to smooth out any bumps,” James said.
The key to pulling off a smooth commencement?
“Communication,” James said.
Kristin Hanks said the chance to watch Corrine have her name called, collect her diploma and have her plans for the future shared with the audience didn't last long.
“It was like all of two seconds,” Kristin Hanks said.
Michelle Sham, who attended her son Blake's Friday commencement with family, was impressed with how well things ran.“I didn't know what to expect,” Sham said. “I thought it was really nice ... very personalized.”Administrative assistant Kim Magill said knowing that the pandemic disrupted the school year, district officials added some perks to this year's commencement.A professional photographer hired to capture students receiving their diplomas provided families with 8-by-10-inch copies, courtesy of the Seneca Valley Foundation.An announcer shared each student's post-graduation plans, something for which Magill said there historically isn't time.“We don't normally have the opportunity to be as personal,” Magill said.There were other unexpected upsides to the event. James said the drive-through arrangement kept people from fighting over seats. It also prevented families from waiting hours outside while the full event took place.With a little security guidance to prevent “cross traffic” and help with vehicle flow, James said the event stayed within social distancing and gathering limitations,“We're trying to do the best that we can do,” James said. “I didn't hear one horn beep in anger.”For several students, Thursday and Friday was about making the most of things and celebrating whenever possible.“It's super fun that we got to come to the school like this,” said senior Grace Sloat. “Even though we didn't get a regular ceremony.”Gigi Hernandez said her son, Luis, will be celebrated with a “small family gathering.” Luis' cousin in Allegheny County is also graduating, an honor that will be recognized at a shared event in the future.Ilaesia Salomon, who walked Friday, planned to mark the occasion with family and dancing. Her grandmother, Maria Garcia, was looking forward to their Friday night party.“She's a good dancer,” Garcia said.Ilaesia's mother, Ines Salomon, recognized there aren't many things that can be done to celebrate in a pandemic. But she felt the district's graduation efforts were nice.“Honestly, I think it was good,” Salomon said. “It was quick and easy.”Corrine's parents said she plans to attend Kent State University for fashion merchandising. Richard Hanks, Corrine's dad, indicated that graduation is a bittersweet moment.“The kids are ready,” Hanks said. “The parents aren't.”
Luis wants to go to Butler County Community College to study business or architecture.Ilaesia has big plans too.“I want to go to West Virginia Potomac State,” Ilaesia said. “(To) be a translator.”Garcia said she's proud of Ilaesia, who's graduating a year early at age 17. Ilaesia's plans to study linguistics follow years of being studious while also working at Shop 'n Save.Garcia said graduation was an important moment.“I was so happy. So excited,” Garcia said. “So proud.”Courtney Sham watched her brother graduate Friday. Courtney, who will graduate next year, had mixed feelings about the event.“It's pretty cool,” Courtney said. “(I'm) just hoping it's back to normal next year.”After the walking ceremonies, students had the opportunity to watch a prerecorded “turning of the tassel” Friday evening online and on SVTV Channel 50.The final touch of graduation included the speeches of valedictorian Nishant Jayachandran, salutatorian Katherine Maloney and speaker-at-large Owen Blazer.In a copy of Nishant's speech released by the school before the broadcast, he offers wisdom to his classmates as survivors of a pandemic.“It was never going to be easy. As a class, and as a generation, we are set to inherit a planet that is, both literally and figuratively, on fire,” Nishant writes. “But guess what? We knew that.”Nishant's speech encourages his classmates to look at the future as an opportunity. By working as a team, Nishant indicates the impacts graduates can have on the world are limitless.Vitale said she also believes the Seneca Valley Class of 2020 will thrive.“I believe they will be remembered as the class that could persevere and smile,” Vitale said.Eagle photographer Sebastian Foltz contributed to this report.
