It was the most unique graduation ceremony in Rockdale High School history Friday evening.
• Nobody got a diploma.
• There wasn’t a “hugathon” at the end with happy-sad grads saying farewell to classmates.
• A speaker.
• There was no Project Graduation.
• Graduates didn’t march onto the field.
But here’s what there was:
• Everybody stayed safe.
• Between Friday and events held earlier in the month, 2020 RHS seniors got as much of a traditional graduation experience as the year’s extraordinary circumstances allowed.
• Valedictory and salutatory speeches
• The traditional graduation program was just on video, played on an outdoor screen in the Tiger Stadium parking lot.
• Fireworks, courtesy of Whinstone which sponsored display which drew cheers and praise for its spectacular display.
• And most importantly, it felt like graduation. Seniors will get their diplomas in the mail, they’ve already “walked across” the field to be honored individually May 7-9 and picked up diploma covers from their parents.
Parents, and family members, were on hand again Friday.
The hybrid graduation ceremony followed an afternoon parade which drew large groups of onlookers. It began at the intermediate parking lot, wound its way down US 79 to Childress and looped around the high school and Veterans Park into northwest Rockdale.
The parade route also include Murray Avenue, south down Wilcox and into southeast Rockdale where it wound around a number of streets, heading toward downtown and eventually ending at Milam Avenue.
Preceding the actual graduation was a video featuring school administrators and teachers saying goodbye to the Class of 2020 and commenting on the unorthodox school year.
PROGRAM—The entire graduation was projected onto a large screen at the south end of the Tiger Stadium parking lot, and accompanied by cheers, honks and whistles as individual seniors’ names were read.
It was simulcast on KRXT-FM.
The program began with the traditional graduation march “Pomp and Circumstance,” pre-recorded by the RHS Big Blue Band, under the direction of Adrian Ocevedo.
That was followed by an opening from Devon Whitsel, student body president.
Sabrina Pantaleon, senior class president, gave the welcome.
Next came the salutatory address by Whitley Boyd and valedictory address by Madeleine Moody. (See page 6A.)
The annual RHS Principal’s Message came next and, like this school semester, it was different.
Principal Brent Hasselbach remarked that the COVID-19-ravaged 2020 term, ironically, marked his first term as RHS principal.
Hasselbach became principal in January, replacing Tiffany Whitsel who accepted an administrative position with the Waco ISD.
Hasselbach then listed those RHS graduates who compiled an average of 90-and-above. (Published in last week’s Reporter.)
Hasselbach presented the Class of 2020 for graduation and it was accepted by Dr. Denise Monzingo, RISD superintendent. Diplomas were announced by Hasselbach.
A brief message of congratulations by The Rockdale ISD School Board, featuring board president Troy Zinn, followed.
Closing was by Emily Depine, senior class secretary. Closing music was the RHS School Song “Hail to the Varsity,” Rockdale’s traditional “Exodus,” and the senior class song “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).”
The was followed by a full fireworks display, sponsored by Whinstone, and touched off from the area behind the big screen.
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