MADISON COUNTY — South Madison Community School Corp. has announced it will have a virtual commencement ceremony for the Pendleton Heights High School Class of 2020.
The commencement is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31. A link to the ceremony will be provided prior to the date of the event.
The announcement on its website noted that by May 31 — the district’s original commencement date — current restrictions of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Indiana “Back on Track” will still prohibit gatherings of more than 100 people.
The message said the corporation will follow restrictions set by the governor and monitor the situation. It will determine at a later time whether a traditional commencement ceremony can take place.
Pendleton Heights High School Principal Connie Rickert said WEEM general manager Tyler Bradfield, an Emmy Award-winning producer/broadcaster and graduate of PHHS and Ball State University, is working on the production for the 2020 graduating class.
She said traditional commencement speeches by class officers, the valedictorian and salutatorian have already been recorded, along with some goodbye messages by a number of the school’s teachers.
Like a traditional commencement, the speeches will open the event, which will be followed by a roll call of students accompanied by their senior pictures.
Pendleton Heights junior Jack Hudson is putting together a senior highlight video that will incorporate footage of sports teams, choir shows and musical performances.
Rickert said a trailer for commencement could be available by the end of the week on the WEEM Facebook and Twitter (@917WEEM) pages.
“I am confident in the product we’ll have out,” she said.
The school principal said they are hopeful a traditional in-person commencement can take place in July when the governor’s plan will permit larger gatherings.
There are 322 students in the Pendleton Heights Class of 2020.
“The goal set for the virtual graduation is to make sure the accomplishments of our seniors are recognized and celebrated,” Rickert said.
Seniors are scheduled to pick up caps and gowns and other graduation items on May 26-27 in the school’s cafeteria. To ensure social distancing requirements are met, only students will be allowed in the building.
The school sent out an alphabetized schedule for the two days from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for all high school students, including underclassmen, to pick up personal belongings in lockers and return school-owned items. For more details, visit smadison.k12.in.us.
Frankton-Lapel Community Schools will discuss its plan for commencement ceremonies today, Thursday, May 14, during a school board meeting, according to Assistant Superintendent Sterling Boles.
Lapel High School and Frankton High School graduations also were originally scheduled for May 31.
