I would have never thought in a million years that my senior year would end this way. I’ll never get to experience walking at graduation, taking pictures at my senior prom, and having a final goodbye to my classmates. Now, it doesn’t really feel like I am graduating anymore.”

Carly Mertz, 17

By Delarita Ford
Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Plans around the world have been canceled due to COVID-19, but for the Class of 2020 the culmination of their undergraduate career --- high school graduation and all of the excitement that comes with it --- is gone without the turning of the tassel.

Scottsdale high school seniors are still awaiting word on if there will be formal graduation ceremonies or not, but many lament the possibility of being deprived of the traditional rites of passage.

The final semester of a high school senior’s career is full of events many look forward to: prom, senior trips and celebrations to honor their academic accomplishments.

“My school has not formally announced that our graduation is canceled, but I believe it is only a matter of time. The location that it is usually held at has not been holding any events since the pandemic started,” said Pinnacle High School student, Carly Mertz, 17.

While the opportunity to cross the stage in front of their family, friends and peers this May is unlikely, the community is coming together to honor their seniors. From local high schools displaying their lights to honor their seniors, to yard signs and a statewide celebration, efforts are coming together to make students feel special.

In April, Chaparral High School seniors retrieved their graduation caps and gowns, in what was described on the district’s social media page as a “drive through style distribution event,” with teachers and staff standing six feet apart cheering for students.

In a show of support to Scottsdale Unified School District seniors, all five high schools will offer a symbolic tribute to the Class of 2020. Beginning the week of April 13, the football field lights on each campus will turn on Thursdays at 8:20 p.m. and remain lit for 20 minutes.

“We hope this gesture is well-received by our seniors and reminds them that we are thinking of them,” the school district posted on its social media accounts.

At this time, graduation has not been officially canceled, school district officials say. The Class of 2020 will  receive a survey from the Student Advisory Board to gather feedback for each high school regarding options for graduates and ceremonies.

Scottsdale Unified School District Gov. Board President Allyson Beckham stated that the district is working diligently to provide the education students deserve during the public health crisis.

“Our seniors have been patient while waiting for difficult and fluid decisions and shown maturity and leadership throughout the transition to remote learning,” Ms. Beckham said.

SUSD spokesperson Amy Bolton couldn’t provide a timeline for when more information on potential graduation plans would be available.

“There will be more to come on this topic as we work through potential alternatives and associated logistics,” Ms. Bolton said, encouraging students and parents to keep an eye on www.SUSD.org for announcements.

‘It won’t happen’

Miss Mertz, an incoming freshmen at Arizona State University’s Barrett, The Honors College, looked forward to high school graduation after working hard for her diploma and graduating with honors.

“I would have never thought in a million years that my senior year would end this way. I’ll never get to experience walking at graduation, taking pictures at my senior prom, and having a final goodbye to my classmates,” she said.

“Now, it doesn’t really feel like I am graduating anymore.”

In addition to not receiving any information, as of press time, about how the seniors will receive their diploma, she stated that her school has yet to release specifics on if they will get their cap and gowns or if “they will hold a livestream for our class and mail the diplomas to us.”

“Luckily, my family hadn’t sent out graduation invitations yet as I know many of my peers have done,” said Miss Mertz who was looking forward to prom, but hadn’t bought her dress yet like some of her friends.

While recognizing those experiencing unemployment, financial and health problems, who “have it so much worse,” she expressed her disappointment in missing senior year traditions.

“Whether it’s Senior Spirit Week or our class Senior Prank, it won’t happen for the Class of 2020,” she said.

In addition to being a graduating senior, Miss Mertz, a 12-year member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale’s Thunderbirds Branch, was named the 2020 Arizona State Youth of the Year.

“It feels like I worked so hard for all those years and when it finally got to the part that was supposed to be fun and easy, we didn’t get to do it.”

The college-bound student said her heart not only went out to all her peers who were not going to college and would miss the opportunity to experience a traditional graduation after all, but to a lot of close friends that she probably would not see for a while.

“I have many friends that are going out of state, and at this rate, I won’t be able to see them before they leave,” she added.

BASIS Scottsdale senior Noah Williamson also expressed disappointment with the situation.

“To be honest, graduation was a very big deal for most of us. At such a rigorous school, the satisfaction from physically receiving the diploma and the cap and gown was much anticipated, and now has been stripped away from us. A bit disappointing, but we are trying to adjust with the times,” Mr. Williamson said.

Mr. Williamson’s school has contingency plans, as of April 14, for a virtual graduation to be conducted like a standard graduation ceremony where students will instead communicate over Zoom.

He said although the situation remains vague, fellow seniors at his school were informed that they will likely have the option to receive graduating documents through the mail and online. After high school, he plans to pursue a career in computer science, working with technology and its applications.

“Some of my friends and I have been planning on organizing a mock-graduation celebration once the corona pandemic passes over in the U.S. We hope to make it more extravagant than graduation itself would have been,” said Mr. Williamson who was to take a senior trip to Tibet with friends but unable to with international travel bans in place.

“I do hope to be able to physically give my goodbyes to those I’ve spent the last four years with, and a lot of our summer plans are based on the idea that COVID-19 levels out by then.”

In limbo

Amanda Ruiz, whose daughter Samia is a revered Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix member attending Cesar Chavez High School in the Phoenix Union High School District, discussed maintaining a sense of calm in the household while everything is uncertain for herself and her daughter during the stressful time.

“It’s hard because we really don’t know how long this will last. Everything’s in limbo day by day,” said Ms. Ruiz, noting that her family and friends were coming from out of state to attend her daughter’s graduation in Laveen until plans were halted by the recent crisis that has even caused her to be off work while schools are closed.

She spoke about the hurt she felt not knowing what was happening with graduations, possibly not seeing her daughter donning a cap and gown with diploma in hand, marching across a stage; and how hard some parents worked to get their children through school.

“It’s been rough even for my daughter. It’s very hurtful,” said Ms. Ruiz. “It is different when you have to deal with a teenager’s emotions; but, you have to be strong for them. It sucks!”

Describing how her daughter “worked extremely hard” during the school year, Samia’s high grade point average got her accepted to all the in state schools although she is interested in going to one of the country’s historical black colleges and universities.

Ms. Ruiz still wanted to know, however, if her school district was planning anything as she heard from others about “something planned” or a “big prom in July with food trucks,” she added.

'Prom and Circumstance'

While this spring won’t be what many Arizona seniors imagined, plans are in the works to make-up for the loss of their spring activities.

Expect More Arizona will host an “Arizona Graduate Recognition Day” on Wednesday, May 20. Graduates are invited to offer ideas on what they want included at the event and are encouraged to see expectmorearizona.org for details.

Shannon Sowby, of Expect More Arizona, said that the educational organization is working with many districts statewide to ensure that graduates “can feel like they are being recognized” as districts experience a “tough spot,” planning the culminating events.

Dealing with social distancing orders while faced with a pandemic and graduations, which are a “big deal,” she added that many minorities in the state have a lot of first-time graduates.

“Kids normally would have graduation parties, senior parties, a breakfast,” Ms. Sowby said.

“Arizona’s spring 2020 graduates worked really hard to reach this milestone, whether they completed high school, a PhD or anything in between.”

In addition, an inaugural “Promchella” is planned in July for juniors and seniors, whose proms were canceled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“When the concerns over large public gatherings end, and they will end, people are going to be ready to get out, see their friends and make memories,” said Nick’s Menswear owner, Josh Fink, in a prepared statement, outlining a two-day music festival featuring live music, DJs, food and more planned for Arizona juniors and seniors during the July “Promchella” in Phoenix that will have a pre-prom tailgate party before the event plus fireworks afterward.

Tickets to Promchella sponsored by Nick’s Menswear, with other local businesses, cost $70 and include a $20 food truck voucher; entry to the event; pre-prom tailgate party; and access to the fireworks show.

Proceeds from Promchella, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, all will go toward local students and families affected by COVID-19.

For event updates, tickets and musical lineup announcements: promchellaaz.com.

Delarita Ford
Reporter | Surprise
@AzNewsmedia

dford@iniusa.org

Starting my media career in 1994, rumor had it that newspapers would not exist much longer. Years later, the newspaper is still around and so is my passion for storytelling and capturing life’s moments for the community.