The CES Newsroom

  • Home
  • CES Stories
  • Local
  • State/National
  • Visit the CES Website

Unusual Amherst Regional graduation ceremony ‘meant something to us’

Posted on Friday, May 29th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 5/27/2020
Link: Complete Article

Amherst senior Alexander Fruean checks his diploma

AMHERST — As music played and spectators clapped and used various noisemakers, including their car horns, more than 200 Amherst Regional High School seniors made their way across a makeshift stage set up in front of the school Wednesday.

Staying at least six feet apart to maintain proper social distancing during the daylong graduation procession, some of the seniors approached Principal Gene Jones and Assistant Principal Talib Sadiq, imitating a handshake or an elbow bump with the school leaders, before removing their face coverings for a professional snapshot on stage, then heading to the embrace of their families and photos with their loved ones.

The graduation exercises for the class of 2020, coming in the midst of a global pandemic, were unlike any that had come before, even as school officials aimed to bring some normalcy to the proceedings of handing out diplomas.

“It was weird,” senior Julian Cartagena said of the experience. “You had to be extra mindful of social distancing.”

But Cartagena said the ceremony was quick and easy and felt right.

“I’m glad I got to walk the stage and that that wasn’t taken away from me. I’m OK with it,” Cartagena said.

Graduating senior Patricia Sittauer said participating in the unusual ceremony was a sentimental experience, even though it was not how she preferred to have her time in high school end.

“It doesn’t feel like school anymore. It feels like something else entirely,” Sittauer said. “It’s still kind of fun to get our own individual moment.”

Continue Reading at Daily Hampshire Gazette

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Amherst Regional High School, Graduation, Seniors 2020, social distancing

Quick Links

  • CES Homepage
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
  • Employment Opportunities

Subscribe by Email

Receive notifications for new posts:


Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Copyright 2023 Collaborative for Educational Services · All Rights Reserved