Cloudland’s Class of 2020 reflect on a unique graduation ceremony
Published 12:26 pm Thursday, June 4, 2020
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Photo Contributed Logan Barnett
Photo Contributed Triston Lacy
Photo by Joey Taylor Photography Bonnie Lunsford
Photo Contributed Hope Markland (right) at her graduation with her granny, Nettie Stevens (left). Markland said having her granny there at the graduation made her day.
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BY BRITNEE NAVE
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Graduations on the big screen continued Tuesday night as Cloudland High School graduates walked across the stage.
Three of the school’s latest alumni have shared their takes on the drive-in graduation ceremony.
Hope Markland
Markland described that she enjoyed the outside aspect of the ceremony.
“I liked how this graduation was better than how they do it in the gym,” she said. “I honestly loved the ceremony and loved the fact that it was outside.”
She said she was able to have those she wanted in attendance there, and believes this was a positive experience to look back on. She said that she was happy her grandmother could attend, and also provided a few words about her mother.
“She has been my number one supporter,” she said. When I was little, my dad passed away, and she had to raise me, my brother, and my sister.”
In reflection of her senior year, she said that despite the circumstances, it was not too bad.
“It wasn’t what I expected but I’m glad I got through it,” she said.
Markland praised the school’s staff, Mr. Church, in particular, saying he is the best principal they have ever had. Her favorite memory is of winning homecoming.
Markland will now be going to Lee’s McRae College to study criminal justice.
Bonnie Lunsford
Lunsford used the word “odd” to describe graduation initially.
“Graduation was very odd this year,” she said. “Ever since freshman year, I had always imagined all my family and friends gathered in the hot gym cheering me on as I walk across the stage. I never thought I would be going to a drive-in theater to have my graduation.”
Lunsford said it was very upsetting at first trying to figure out who was going to be able to go due to having divorced parents and a large family.
While the initial graduation aspect felt odd, Lunsford said it went well ultimately. She said after details over who was and who wasn’t going was decided, it went smoothly.
“Everything went smooth after that, graduation was amazing,” she said. “We live in such a great community where the people care about us and will go out of there way for us.
“Mr. Church and Ms. Shellie, and all the faculty and staff members put in countless hours to plan this amazing night for us and I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Lunsford said everyone except her Pa, who could not sit in the car for a long period of time, was able to attend the ceremony. She said this is a memory she will look back on positively.
As for her senior year, Lunsford said that it was actually her easiest year. Her favorite memory in school was getting stranded for a couple of hours on a school field trip to Dollywood.
“I was upset about it at the time because I wanted to come home, but now I wouldn’t change it for anything,” she said.
Lunsford will be attending Northeast State Community College. She plans to become a neonatal nurse.
Triston Lacy
Lacy was not in favor of the graduation ceremony.
“We deserved better,” he said.
While he was not in favor of the ceremony, he said he was glad to have his family there and see his friends before graduating for a final time.
Lacy will now be going into the United States Army.
Logan Barnett
Barnett showed school pride.
“Personally I don’t think there’s no place better than Cloudland High School, with it being such a small group of kids I believe we are more of a family than we are a school,” he said. “Each and every teacher and staff member is very helpful and help you in any way they can.”
Barnett went on to say that the graduation ceremony was memorable.
“The ceremony was not traditional, but was one for the books because nobody else has ever had it like that before and being the same as everyone is boring, so I thought it was pretty cool. I know for a fact this year’s class pulled off a pretty good senior skip day that’s for sure.”
Barnett described the ceremony as smooth despite the loss of balloons during the parade to the drive-in.
“The parade was cool, besides all the balloons we lost on our 17-mile haul from Roan Mountain to the drive-in,” he said.
In reflection of his time out of school, he described having more time on his hands.
“With us being out, it didn’t really change my lifestyle too much. With all that time on my hands I turkey hunted, fished, rode dirt bikes, and worked.
“I may have missed out on a few memories that I would have made at school, but I made some that I wouldn’t have been able to without all this happening. Like going to the track with my friends and racing and all sorts of stuff.”
Barnett will now be going to Caldwell Community College this summer and taking their electrical lineman course.
He summarized walking across the stage saying, “All in all, I got to walk across the stage with my friends there, yell “FreeBird” after I grabbed my diploma and now to go on with the rest of my life.”
Congratulations to Cloudland High School’s graduating class of 2020!
