Sunday afternoon parade to celebrate grads
Due to COVID-19 concerns and gathering limitations, there will not be a traditional graduation ceremony as originally planned Sunday, May 17, but that doesn’t mean the Holyoke High School Class of 2020 won’t be celebrating.
Family, friends and community members are invited to join a graduation parade Sunday afternoon. At 1 p.m., individuals should meet at the Phillips County Event Center parking lot. A school minibus will lead the parade that will drive by the houses of graduating seniors.
Families have been encouraged to decorate their front porches, and grads will be outside in their caps and gowns to wave as the parade passes by. Those in the parade must stay in their vehicles at all times and remember to practice social distancing guidelines.
Drivers can tune in to Star 92.3 where Marc Maelzer will be announcing scholarships and future plans as the parade passes by each house.
A parade route map will be available at www.hcosd.org or the Holyoke Re-1J School District Facebook page. It is possible that the parade route will head out of town to rural addresses; however, students were given the option to partner up with another grad at their house.
This week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, individual signs honoring each of the 45 graduates will be on display at the football field. The lights will also be turned on from 7-8 p.m. on each of those nights. On Sunday, the signs can be spotted at the graduates’ houses.
On Friday, the seniors will officially complete their education at Holyoke High School. The end of their senior year looked different than usual — they have not been in a traditional classroom setting since mid-March. Virtual online classes have been implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
JR/SR high counselor Angela Powell reminds the community that a traditional in-person graduation ceremony is being planned for Sunday, June 21. If a gathering cannot take place that day, the school will shoot for Sunday, July 19.
The 45 graduates in the HHS Class of 2020 are Victor Manuel Baeza, Lauren Marie Bergner, Hunter Bergstrom, Slaten Crew Burris, Maxim Medel Cano, Luis Chafino, Caleb Jennings Deaver, Deacon Dawsen Dittmer, Alycia Faith Franklin Reed, Brenna Rose Gatton, Fabian Gonzalez, Tayler Lanae Hale, Isaiah James Hatton, Whitney Cheyenne Hauser-Redding.
Josie Herman, Remington Hielscher, Traeli Shona Hutches, Emily Rose Meiyi Jelden, Mason King, Morganne Ashlyn Kumm, Andy Lopez, Janessa Sue Lutze, Citlali Cecilia Marquez, Makenzie Kay Martin, Blake Russell Mosenteen, Matthew Oberle, Kassidy Marie Porter, Victoria Jo Race, Michael Jade Ramos.
Sarah Elizabeth Razo, Luis Antonio Reynoso, Andrew Jacob Rivera, Angel Rojo, Anthony Rojo, Tristen Michael Roll, Marisa Roman, Clarissa Ruiz Dominguez, Miguel S. Soto Jr., Emily Abigail Trejo, Jacqueline Valenzuela, Nain Jose Vasquez, Alexis Vega Llanas, Seth James Watson, Shianne Raven Willmon and Alondra Zapata.