The Fayette County Record
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Graduation Celebration Innovation

By Jeff Wick
Fayetteville superintendent Dr. Jeff Harvey gave elbow bumps to each graduate (here Julie Korenek) instead of handshakes as they came up on stage to get their diploma. Photo by Jeff Wick
Fayetteville typically had their graduations inside, but having it outside this year allowed for an impressive fireworks display after the ceremony. Photo by Jeff Wick
Schulenburg grads socially distancing before their Friday ceremony. Schulenburg ISD photo
Fayetteville Valedictorian Miles Gillette-Bockhorn addresses his fellow graduates Friday. Photo by Jeff Wick
Kaitlyn Rowell delivers the 2020 Valedictorian address Friday night at Flatonia High School graduation. Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
Cassandra Flores delivers the Salutatorian address to the Class of 2020 at Flatonia at Friday’s ceremony. Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
The Flatonia Class of 2020 tosses their hats into the air in celebration of completing a milestone in an unusual senior year. Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
The socially-distanced crowd at the Fayetteville graduation sat in family groups of four, shown here as the graduates walked into the ceremony. Photos by Jeff Wick
As the sun sets, Grace-Anne Matocha takes a group photo of the Fayetteville seniors before the ceremony.

For the past three months, nothing has been normal for the seniors of the Class of 2020.

Because of coronavirus precautions the closing act of their high school careers was one of uncertainty.

But Friday was a night of celebration and hope for three Fayette County senior classes as Schulenburg, Flatonia and Fayetteville all held their graduation ceremonies.

Round Top-Carmine’s graduation is June 5 at 7 p.m. and La Grange’s graduation is Thursday June 25.

Each school had to make special arrangements just to be able to hold their ceremonies.

Over in Fayetteville, the ceremony was held at the school’s track complex. Each of the 22 graduates was able to have four guests. Each of those guests were grouped together in little pods of chairs more than six feet away from other groups.

There was one tailgate party parked beyond the stadium where a few more people were able to watch the event.

The graduates marched into the ceremony and were all seated distanced from one another – but at least they were back together again.

“We have made so many memories together,” said salutatorian Julie Korenek. “Most of us went to kindergarten together.”

Valedictorian Miles Gillette-Bockhorn said in his speech that this was the first time they had been back together since Friday March 6.

“To come before you now seems almost surreal,” he said in his speech. “This is a world in chaos ... Uncertainty abounds, life is changing and we must change with it ... but we are prepared to handle any situation with grace ... what lies ahead of us has infinite possibilities.”

It was announced at the ceremony that every member of the senior class received at least one scholarship, 42 grants in all, totaling over $340,000.

Even amidst the ceremony the socially distancing precautions hung over the proceedings. Every graduate got an elbow bump from superintendent Dr. Jeff Harvey instead of a hand shake when they got their diploma. But Harvey had one more surprise for the graduates before they were done at Fayetteville High.

“We want to give you the send-off you deserve,” Harvey said, before a lengthy fireworks display lit up the sky over their heads.

“Class of 2020,” Harvey said when the fireworks were over, “now you are officially dismissed.”

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