Modified commencement ceremony scheduled for Sunday

Despite the obstacles posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Hampton-Dumont-CAL High School graduating class will still be honored as scheduled.

The district will move ahead with a modified graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 24 at the high school parking lot. Per the plans released to students and families last week, students, along with guests, will arrive in their vehicles and gather at the back parking lot of the high school. Students will receive cords and programs before settling in a designated parking spot. Spots will be arranged in an arc-like pattern so cars can view the ceremony, which will be presented on a stage assembled in the parking lot.

The ceremony will contain speakers, musical performances, recognition of honors and scholarships, and other traditional graduation traditions before distribution of diplomas. Students will remain in their vehicles until their names are called. After receiving their diploma, they will exit the stage to a photo area and be given a confetti popper.

When all diplomas have been handed out, students will be invited to flip their tassels and release the confetti.

The ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be broadcasted on KLMJ and Bulldog TV at bulldogtv.live.

Due to ongoing social distancing measures and to ensure the safety of students, families and staff, the district is limiting attendance to the vehicles of students and their families. All who wish to attend but will not be in a student’s vehicle are invited to view the ceremony on Bulldog TV or tune into the radio broadcast.

H-D-CAL Principal Steve Madson said much thought went into the planning of the graduation and the decision to keep the ceremony on its original weekend. He said it devised by not only administration, but student leadership as well.

“This is a plan they (student leadership) was excited about,” he said. “All along the goal was to try to do something that can make this special for the class of 2020 since they are the (students) mostly affected by it in terms that this is their last year and the traditional graduation ceremony is not an option at this time.”

Madson said the school did consider moving the ceremony to a later date in hopes that public gatherings with larger audiences were allowed, but that the students wanted to make sure their classmates could participate in a ceremony. By keeping the event at its scheduled date, Madson said students can attend before pursuing their goals whether it be enrolling in college, enlisting in the military or beginning a career.

“They understood that if we did delay this, there could be students that wouldn’t be able to attend graduation and one of their goals was to make sure we have the best chance of having everyone here for graduation,” he said, adding that the decision sums up the integrity of members representing the graduating class. “It is a unique senior class and they’re wonderful kids, they’re very thoughtful and very empathetic.”