LAPEL — Lapel High School’s in-person graduation ceremony is on for the Class of 2020, but it will be different from any other such event in the past.

COVID-19-related restrictions have caused many Indiana high schools — including Pendleton Heights — to switch to virtual graduations with the hope of having a traditional ceremony in the summer.

Lapel will not have a virtual graduation.

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Instead, the school has been approved to host an in-person, one-family-at-a-time graduation ceremony. The date of the graduation event will remain the same as originally scheduled, May 31.

Agreed on at the May 14 Frankton-Lapel Community Schools Board of Trustees meeting and designed using guidelines from the state’s Department of Health and Department of Education, the ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. The format will give families a specific time to be at the school for the diploma presentation.

The school is scheduled to honor 114 graduates at the ceremony.

Lapel High School principal John Willis sent a video message to the school’s Class of 2020 laying out the plan as well as giving the students a message of respect and encouragement as they go forward.

In the message, Willis said, “I want to thank all of you for your understanding, grace and compassion during these unprecedented times. I want to complement you on your resilience, and I am truly sorry you have not been able to enjoy some of the usual experiences of a senior.

“However, many of you have heard me say, ‘Situations and circumstances will not define you. How you respond to those situations and circumstances; that is how people will remember you.’ I will choose to remember you for your understanding, your grace, your compassion, your support and your resilience.”

Willis went on to say the decisions were made in the best interest of the students with the ultimate goal of honoring each member of the Class of 2020.

He said the district delayed making a decision in hopes of doing something more than a virtual ceremony. He said postponing the event would result in not being able to honor every students because some class members will be moving or entering the military in the summer. The district wanted to have a ceremony where all members of the class could be recognized.

On graduation day, graduates and their families will be allowed to enter the school building one at a time, with each family unit entering at a time specified by the school.

Each grad will go onto the auditorium stage, receive his or her diploma with family watching, while his or her name is announced. Afterward, the student will exit the stage and have pictures taken by a professional photographer. The grad and family will then exit the building and return to their vehicle.

After the final graduate walks across the stage, a Class of 2020 parade for the community has been set for 5 p.m., beginning at Lapel Middle School and ending at the high school.

The same information given the students was also sent in document to parents and guardians, noting that social distancing guidelines will be in place, including a maximum of 15 family members to join the graduate for the ceremony.

South Madison Community School Corp. announced earlier this month 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.

An announcement was made on the corporation website that the date of the traditional graduation ceremony, also May 31, would have to be postponed under current restrictions of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Indiana “Back on Track” plan, which still prohibits gatherings of more than 100 people on that date.

Pendleton Heights’ principal Connie Rickert said the school is hopeful a traditional in-person commencement can take place in July when the governor’s plan is to permit larger crowds.

Like Willis, Rickert’s goals are the same. She wants to acknowledge the 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.