By Beacon Staff
Their purple robes popping against the bright green field of Bracewell Stadium, nearly 200 graduating Burlington High School seniors took their final walk out of childhood Saturday night (July 18).
Like most high schools across America, the BHS graduation was severely delayed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Some seniors had left for basic training and couldn’t be there, while others had a variety of reasons for not attending.
“It’s kind of different, but I’m glad they’re having it. They just could have easily not had it,” said Spencer Brown, 18.
His neck draped with colorful cords designating everything from his Eagle Scout accomplishments to his executive status in the National Honor Society, Brown already has the next decade of life mapped out. Two years at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, a civil engineering degree at Iowa State University, and career putting that degree to good use.
“It (civil engineering) is just something I’ve always been interested in,” he said.
A heat advisory was in effect, but with back-to-back graduation ceremonies (the students were divided alphabetically to ensure social distancing), the brevity of each commencement was appreciated.
Burlington School District Superintendent Pat Coen joked during his address that it was likely the shortest speech he has ever made.
“No matter where you are, the challenges that you face, you will overcome them as long as you show up, you work hard, and you’re respectful,” he said.
A hand sanitizing station was mounted on the graduation stage, the empty diploma case in the center cleaned after each student held it.
Many graduates wore mass while all the school staff and board members did, save for when they spoke at the podium. Social distancing was a reality on the field, though not beforehand as classmates greeted each other and posed for pictures.
“Just be smart about it,” said graduating senior Dru Farran, his face covered by a mask as he pined about his plans to become a chemical engineer.
About six months into the pandemic, none of the new measures seemed that unusual to the graduates. Reminders of the unprecedented were woven into the fabric of everyday life.
“Don’t let COVID undermine your accomplishments,” valedictorian Katie Kannan said during an abbreviated version of her commencement speech.
Kannan had already read her full 10-minute speech during the BHS virtual commencement that aired May 31. So had salutatorian Peighton Davis, who was unable to make it to Saturday’s live graduation.
In her televised speech, Davis paid tribute to the late Jackson Gipe, who would have graduated with the class of 2020. Gipe died of cancer at the age of 12, and the senior class has continued to honor his memory.
“He was my best friend,” she said.
Photo 1 by Joy Mack
The 2020 Burlington High School graduating seniors walk onto the field at Bracewell Stadium on Saturday for their delayed commencement ceremony.
Photo by William Smith
Valedictorian Katie Kannan delivers her speech Saturday during the 2020 Burlington High School commencement ceremony.