John Scarffe, Gilpin County. Thirty-one Gilpin County School members of the Class of 2020 participated in a graduation ceremony on Saturday, August 1, at 11 a.m. According to School Counselor Kim Cobb, it was a closed ceremony.

“We worked with students and families, as well as our Public Health, to provide an opportunity for students to have a private graduation with limited family and guests,” Cobb said. Through working with students and parents in the months of April and May, they opted for an in-person ceremony on August 1 with a backup date of December 21 if they were unable to do the ceremony in August. “We were grateful to be able to recognize our students on August 1.”

The seniors marched in a procession to Pomp and Circumstance followed by Sarah Trujillo singing the national anthem. According to Class Sponsor Su Henry, the students were seated separated from each other by about seven feet.

The teachers were also separated from each other by seven feet as well. The teachers were on one side of the podium, and the students were on the other side.

Secondary Principal Alexis Donaldson provided an introduction followed by Class Speaker Isabel Szucs. Ryan Raynes delivered the Commencement Address, and Ella Felty presented the class gift before Jessica Wilhelm spoke as Salutatorian and Claire Diekman spoke as Valedictorian. 

Kim Cobb announced scholarships for seniors, and Alicia Johnson presented flower recognitions followed by the Flower Ceremony with “Mess is Mine” by Vance Joy.

Donaldson and Superintendent David MacKenzie presented diplomas to the graduates. The students walked up onto the stage and picked up their own diplomas, and then they turned to the audience for a photo op. Then Donaldson presented the graduates, who recessed to “Good Riddance,” by Green Day, which is the class song.

The Class Motto is: “What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us,” by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Peonies are the class flower, and colors are maroon and silver. 

Henry said she has been the Class of 2020 Sponsor since they were in second grade, although she didn’t do any “Sponsor Duties” with them until they were in sixth grade, when they got to decorate their hallway for Homecoming and walk in the Homecoming Parade.

Graduate Samantha Smith’s mother, Clorinda, said: “It was a beautiful and warm day for the 2020 graduation. All wore masks except for the people while individually speaking at the podium. 

“Everyone was seated in their family groupings six feet apart from each family,” Clorinda said. They heard great speeches. 

Each senior was given a USB drive to watch at home and keep. The students also received lots of scholarship money, in total over half a million dollars. 

Samantha said her favorite part was the flower ceremony. This is usually where you give flowers to the people who you want to thank and who were supportive; however, this year they could only give flowers to the family and friends in their personal group.

Starla Carr watched Jessie Alexander graduate. He had been in the Gilpin Schools since fifth grade. She said the ceremony went well, and it was nice to do a graduation, although it was different than the ones in the past.

“It was strange,” Carr said. “The best part was seeing all the graduates smiling when they got their diploma. I thought it was set up pretty well.” 

Jessie was just happy to get his diploma and be done with it. “They all seemed relieved.” 

Graduates were Nicole Marie Adams, Jessie James Alexander, Seth Van Antill, Noelle Dawn Arrington, Joshua James Bloom, Tyler Dennis Braning, Noemi Martha Janet Correa, Clair Ruth Diekman, John Paul Michael Di’Mauro, Josie Rose Edelman, Ella Grace Felty, Breanna Cierra Gazotti, Bailey Nicole Hobson-Kroll, William Craig Innis, Joyce Irene Jewell, Alicia Suzanne Johnson, Madison Marie Kennedy, Jade Destiny King, Jake Rayne Marshall, Makayla Nicole Moak, Christine Dana Morrison, Ashley Sterling Parkhurst, Logan Robert Prewitt, Joleen Elizabeth Slack, Samantha Gabrielle Smith, Isabel Marie Szucs, Sarah Elizabeth Trujillo, Lena Elizabeth Warren, Alyssa Nichole Webb, Michael Xavier Wenholz and Jessica Marie Wilhelm. 

(Originally published in the August 6, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)