LAPEL — In a year when almost all senior traditions were taken away, Lapel High School principal John Willis believed the Class of 2020 could start some new ones.

“One of the things we talked about with the graduation committee was doing something where the class could create their own tradition,” Willis said. “We weren’t going to have the traditional (graduation commencement), so what could we create?

There were no spring sports. There was no prom. There was no “in-person” last day of school.

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On the date the traditional commencement was scheduled and then canceled because of COVID-19 — May 31 — the Lapel High School Class of 2020 graduated, like no other before.

Earlier this month, the school announced, with approval from the Frankton-Lapel Community School Board, an in-person graduation.

Using guidelines set by the state’s Department of Health and Department of Education and abiding by Indiana’s social distancing regulations, Lapel’s committee put together a memorable day for the 115-member Lapel Class of 2020.

One by one, seniors — with a maximum of 15 family members and friends — entered the school auditorium.

The student’s name was read as he or she walked across the stage, while his or her contingent watched in the audience.

Afterward, the students walked down the stage steps, reunited with family and posed for pictures in the neighboring choir room. Then, it was out the door and time to bring in the next student.

“It’s definitely a blessing that I got to walk across the stage and have my family there with me,” graduate Harrison Burrell said. “It wasn’t as long (as most graduations). It was short. You just come for the good part and go.”

“I was, personally, nervous, because we didn’t know what to expect,” said Lori Burrell, Harrison’s mother. “I thought they did an amazing job, keeping everyone safe and making it feel like a graduation.”

“They did a great job and made it very special for us,” Don Burrell, Harrison’s father, said.

Melissa Crafton had a son, Lane Crafton, and daughter, Jenna Buckner, graduate Sunday.

“They’ve got it down pat out here. I think it was a well-oiled machine today,” Melissa Crafton said of the in-and-out graduation. “Having everyone arrive together, go in together and get pictures taken together showed they were aware of the social distancing.

“It worked out well and a touch better than sitting in a gym for four hours like normal graduation. I think the kids are really excited they got to walk the stage. That’s a big part of what graduation is all about.”

“I was definitely excited we got to walk across the stage and didn’t have to just do a virtual graduation,” Jenna Buckner added.

Each walk-through was video-recorded by Damon Golden Photography and Videography, and will be edited together as part of a final production.

The finale will include traditional commencement speeches from co-valedictorians Benjamin Manning and Jesse McCurdy; one of two salutatorians, Zoe Freer, and class president Cole Alexander.

Morgan Walsh was named a co-salutatorian following the accumulation of final grades. She elected not to give a speech because of the late notice.

After the final grad walked across the stage, the newest class of Bulldogs was celebrated in a parade from the middle school, through town and back to the high school.

Willis said clips from the parade will also be included on the final video.

“I thought it was really unique,” Freer said of Sunday’s graduation. “I like how we did something in person, rather than just doing a virtual graduation. I think the whole process went smooth. I don’t know about the ceremony, but I think the parade will be a new tradition for future classes.”

Freer said her speech was about encouraging students to get involved in activities during their high school careers.

Along with the first-time elements of the graduation and parade, the school also made banners of the seniors that were displayed in downtown Lapel.

The principal said he is hoping a link for the entire graduation celebration will be available in a couple weeks.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our students, parents, families, the community and the Lapel Police Department,” Willis said of being able to pull off Sunday’s unique graduation. “We got great support from the school board, Superintendent (Bobby Fields), Assistant Superintendent (Sterling Boles). They gave us the opportunity to try to do something like this, which was very cool.

“I love this town, and I love our kids. They’re all pretty special.”

Whether some or all of the 2020 celebration will become tradition remains to be seen, but memories like no other were created.