Sporting a huge dose of fortitude and perseverance, the students, teachers, staff, and administrators of the Gettysburg Area High School (GASD) banded remotely on Saturday to celebrate the achievements of their graduating seniors.
The ceremony, recorded as YouTube video, had all of the intimacy and emotion of any other high school commencement. It was however, minus the cheering and hat throwing.
Scheer
The faces were fresh, and the speeches (including those by senior Ryley Scheer, valedictorian Luke May, Principal Jeremy Lusk, and District Superintendent Jason Perrin), which ran through references from the Civil War to Legally Blonde, were well crafted.
Student choice speaker José Perez-Zetune spoke first in Spanish and then in English.
Although no students were processing down the aisles, a rendition of “Pomp and Circumstances” by the GASD orchestra began the event.
The National Anthem, cheerfully sung by Rebecca Negro, was moving.
The school choir came together for a poignant rendition of Billie Joe Armstrong’s (Green Day’s) “Good Riddance (Time of your Life).”
The “challenges have exceptional; the class of 2020 is unprecedented,” said Scheer.
“Together we have continued to learn and grow as human beings; together we have strengthened our bodies and spirits as well as our minds; together we have taken the time to slow down and actively think about the impact of our lives,” said Scheer.
“We’re not the forgotten class or the COVID class – we’re the GASD High School class of 2020 and we’re just getting started,” said May.
These students have endured a lot, and they came through in a remarkably moving way. If you have a few minutes, I encourage you to tune in.
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.