There was one paramount concern for Slippery Rock Area High School seniors about their graduation — they wanted to be together.

According to Slippery Rock Superintendent Alfonso Angelucci, this request was collected from surveys conducted by class officers and senior advisers, among others who helped organize the graduation, which will take place June 4 at the Starlight Drive-in in Center Township.

“They met and gathered feedback from students and parents,” Angelucci said. “They came up with a plan that satisfied the No. 1 request of the Class of 2020, which was to be together.”

Come graduation day, the gates will open at 7 p.m. at the drive-in. Two cars will be admitted per graduating senior. The gates will close at around 8:15 p.m. and the commencement will begin around 8:45 p.m.

Angelucci said the district has set procedures for the graduation to protect students, parents and spectators from COVID-19. The district's guidelines are on its website; those attending the ceremony are asked to also follow the guidelines of the drive-in.

“Families will be in their vehicle,” Angelucci said. “As the graduates are called, they'll be recognized live on the screen for the audience.”

The students will set up in waves, each group consisting of no more than 25 people. As one group finishes, they will return to their vehicles and another group will set up near the screen.

The students will receive their diplomas this week as opposed to the day of the ceremony.

“We're going to have the event next week, rain or shine,” Angelucci said. “We didn't want to risk ruining (diplomas), because it's such an important memento of their years in school.”

Angelucci said this ceremony is the best outcome the seniors could have hoped for considering the circumstances, and he was happy that they had a hand in deciding how to celebrate their own achievement. He said their ability to do so speaks to the type of people they have become — these soon to be Slippery Rock Area High School graduates.

“They're a resilient and diligent bunch,” Angelucci said. “I'm probably prouder of this class than I have of any class just because of what they've had to endure. It's just been remarkable.”