The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted life as we know it, many countries are on lockdown and people are advised to maintain social distancing. Homeschooling, working from home, cancelled events, weddings, funerals and graduations are the new normal.
In light of the pandemic that has so far led to the deaths of over 160,000 people worldwide, creative ways of enjoying things like school graduations have to be found.
In one case, a high school in South Mississippi is having a drive-thru graduation ceremony. Similar to a drive-in movie theatre, the 2020 graduates and their families will still be able to enjoy the occasion.
In a non-traditional way, the students and their parents will be picked up in volunteer Jeeps, according to reports.
“Graduates and their parents will park in the parking lot, where someone driving a Jeep – or a “volunteer Jeeper” as the district calls them – and will pick the student and their parents up. The Jeep will take the senior to the football stadium.”
Upon arrival at the football stadium, they will remain in their jeeps and listen to speeches from the valedictorian and salutatorian.
“Once all the Jeeps are parked, everyone will remain in their vehicles while the administration, valedictorian and salutatorian deliver their commencement speeches. Similar to an old-fashioned drive-in movie, the district will broadcast the speeches on public radio. It will also be broadcast on Facebook Live.”
After the graduation ceremony, a procession of Jeeps will travel to the viewing area. The graduates will have their picture taken and will be given a baseball cap, instead of the traditional cap.
“Once the speeches are over, the procession of Jeeps will travel to the Bay-Waveland School District viewing area, where each senior will be given their diploma and professionally photographed. This moment would also be streamed live.”
While the parade is going on, there will be tents for family members, no more than 10 people, per social-distancing rules.
“Each graduate will have their own tent that can be decorated with signs celebrating their achievements. Those tents will be allowed to have up to 10 people, with 4-5 parking spaces next to each tent for the student’s loved ones.”
Once the parade is over, the Jeep will take the student and families back to their vehicles.