‘G DAY’ for Elizabethton seniors… Elizabethton High celebrates graduation day on Saturday
Published 2:45 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2020
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
It has taken 12 and maybe even 13 years for some of the seniors at Elizabethton High School to reach a day they started a journey on when they first entered grade school whether in Kindergarten or the first grade.
And while there have been bumps in the road along their travels including a huge detour during their final year in the form of COVID-19, these students have stayed the course and will be having their diplomas presented to them on Saturday at the Elizabethton High School student parking lot.
In an email to parents on Tuesday, Elizabethton High School principal Jon Minton conveyed details for what Saturday will hold for the graduates and their families.
According to Minton, the gates to the student parking lot will open at 6 pm on Saturday to allow vehicles to enter. One vehicle per graduate will be placed in a reserved parking spot and any other spectator vehicles will be placed in overflow parking along the outside of the lot.
The entrance to the student parking lot will only be allowed near the intersection of Elk Avenue and Bemberg.
Upon entering the parking lot, families and students will be given a program and written guidelines for the ceremony.
The graduation address will begin at 7 pm and the gates will be closed at that time.
Ushers will be utilized to instruct the graduates on the appropriate time to exit their vehicles to come forward and receive their diplomas.
There will be a specific order so as to maintain a schedule and to give adequate time to recognize each student individually.
The senior students will approach the stage, pick up their diploma from the diploma table, and return to their vehicles. Upon reaching their vehicle, each senior will be asked to remain outside of the vehicle until all their fellow graduates have visited the stage.
To conclude the ceremony, a confirmation of diplomas will occur and the Class of 2020 will be official.
Once the ceremony is complete, the ushers will then release the vehicles one row at a time so the exit from the parking lot will be orderly and safe.
The graduates will then proceed to the State Line Drive-in for the showing of the graduation video. One vehicle per student will be admitted by ticket only for the showing which begins at approximately 8:45 pm.
Any overflow or additional viewing will be permitted without a ticket in the student parking lot at 8:45 pm as well.
Minton wanted to emphasize that it is important to observe social distancing guidelines during the ceremony, at the Drive-in, and in the student parking lot for the viewing.
During the ceremony, only the graduating senior will be asked to exit the vehicle and Minton asked that no one exits the vehicle unless in case of an emergency.
Video screens will display activity on the stage throughout the ceremony so viewing is accessible to everyone.
Minton said that he appreciated everyone cooperating in advance as everyone is looking forward to celebrating the Class of 2020 on Saturday.
