The COVID-19 pandemic has made it an unusual last year for Wrangell High School seniors, and that will culminate with a unique graduation ceremony stretched out on the city dock May 21.
That assumes decent weather. The backup plan is back to the community gym, said Megan Powell, adviser to the class of 2021.
The students wanted something different this year, Powell said, and that is the dock. The school submitted its COVID-19 mitigation plans to the borough manager and port director, and seating will be limited to four guests for each of the 14 graduates.“Right now, we’ve got people spread out at three feet on the dock,” she said. The graduation program will be digital, no paper.
Face masks will be required, and the graduates will walk out to the dock one at a time to take their seats, Powell said.
The 7 p.m. ceremonies will be livestreamed on YouTube, including a slide show of senior photos — baby pictures, too — and letters from parents, Powell said.
Because weather will determine if the city dock or the gym is the venue, organizers will need to hold off setting up until they are confident in the forecast. “The day of we will be scrambling with everything,” she said.
In addition to remarks by the co-valedictorians and salutatorian, science teacher Heather Howe will be the guest speaker at graduation.
There will not be a graduation dinner this year. The students decided they would rather go home and watch the ceremonies on YouTube with their families, Powell said.
Last year’s graduation was held in the gym and limited to one student at a time walking into the room to pick up the diploma and then walking out.
This year’s graduating class includes:
• Co-valedictorians Terra Hoyt and Bruce Smith
• Salutatorian Jade Balansag
• Brett Abrahamson
• Robyn Booker
• Jacob Dow
• Annabelle Garcia-Rangel
• Thien Khuong
• Julia Miethe
• Ashlee Olson
• Logan Ritchie
• Alexander Rooney
• Elizabeth Stuart
• Michelle Stuart
In addition to this year’s Wrangell High School graduates:
• Savannah Rosemarie Smith, of Wrangell, is a PACE Statewide Homeschool graduate this spring.
• Aaliyah Messmer, of Wrangell, is an IDEA Homeschooling graduate.
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