Zero caps. Zero gowns. Zero tassels. A prom king and queen without a prom.

And about 211 unhappy graduated Knoch High School seniors.

Knoch High School Principal Todd Trofimuk announced in a letter on the school's website Monday that both the school's commencement and prom were canceled.

He cited several reasons for the cancellations, including the local increase of COVID-19 cases and the state Department of Education's wish to limit large gatherings.

It left some of the Class of 2020 at Knoch stunned, sad and indignant.

“I speak for most of my peers when I say they had the opportunity in June to make the most of what we had,” said 2020 Knoch grad Sammy Jo Barnes, “and they completely blew it.”

Barnes said she and her classmates watched closely how other school districts in Butler County handled graduation.

While not perfect, it was something.

Barnes said all she and her classmates wanted was something.

On June 5, Knoch graduates received their diplomas from school officials in a “virtual graduation” that was aired on YouTube.

Barnes said that was not nearly enough.

“All Knoch could do was create a poor, (hurried) video that didn't even acknowledge the seniors' plans after high school,” Barnes said. “Their idea of a graduation was a disgrace, and everyone I've talked to agrees.”

To recent graduate Skylar Burkett, the announcement wasn't completely unexpected. She had prepared herself for weeks.

“It was very saddening and disappointing when this all went down,” Burkett said, “but after a while, I think all of our hopes faded away.”

Burkett said she knew when she walked down the walkway into an empty auditorium June 5 to receive her diploma in silence that she and her classmates weren't going to have a true ceremony.

“It made me pretty sad that I had to watch other schools have an opportunity of a proper graduation in a modified way,” said Burkett, who attended a drive-in graduation for her cousin at Burrell.

“It was awesome,” Burkett said. “I wish we could have had an experience like that.”

Graduate Brady McKee said he was also disappointed, but not angry.

“I look at it as if it's just getting us ready for the next part of our lives,” McKee said. “It (stinks) the way it ended, but I am thankful for all of the memories I have made with all of my friends and classmates. The class of 2020 will for sure be remembered.”

Trofimuk expressed in the letter the administration's disappointment in having to cancel both commencement and prom. The letter indicated public health concerns trumped all else.

The district had hoped to hold a commencement ceremony July 30 and a prom July 31.

Barnes said many of her classmates are most upset about the cancellation of commencement.

Trofimuk noted at the end of the release that the prom king and queen will be announced in the near future on the school's website.

“I don't care about prom,” Barnes said. “I'm talking about graduation. It's just laziness by the district. Pure laziness.”

Knoch held an outdoor dinner for the seniors with the top 10 grade point averages in early June, and seniors participated in a parade thrown by the community last month through Saxonburg.

Still, the lament is that the Class of 2020 will go down as a rare one without a commencement ceremony.

“It's easy to get mad about it when it is brought up, but at the end of the day, oh well — we are all just about moving on,” Barnes said. “Better things to come. It's frustrating for sure.”

Trofimuk could not be reached for comment.