Despite not being able to take the traditional stroll across the auditorium stage to receive their diplomas, thanks to dedicated parents and school staff, this Thursday will be a day the Bradford Area High School class of 2020 will never forget, complete with a virtual ceremony and graduation procession.
The graduation events will kick off with a graduation car procession at 4:30 p.m., with seniors arriving at 4 p.m. at the Bradford Mall parking lot by the old Big Lots and Gordmans.
The entire community is invited to come out and watch the procession and cheer the class of 2020 on, which will take the following route:
-Turn out of Bradford Mall parking lot at light by Taco Bell, take right onto East Main Street
-Go down East Main Street, until the intersection with Main Street, turning right onto Main Street
– Go down Main Street to the intersection with Mechanic Street and turn right
onto Mechanic Street
-Left onto West Washington Street
-Right onto Interstate Parkway
-Up Interstate Parkway past the high school, turning right onto Abbott Road
-Right onto North Bennett
-Left onto School Street; School Street will turn into Jackson Avenue
-Left onto Seaward Avenue
-Right onto Bolivar Drive, where they will continue on until they reach the Bradford Mall parking lot, where the procession will end.
Stephanie Lonzi, one of the parents who helped organize the procession, said the route was made fairly long so people can come out and watch, though still follow recommended social distancing guidelines.
“We’re really hoping to have lots of community involvement,” noted Lonzi. “Encourage friends and family to come out and support our seniors and give them a final farewell.”
The procession was put together by a small group of parents who wanted to give their seniors a proper farewell. Lonzi described the informal committee as a “good group of parents that worked hard to give their seniors something to remember.” In addition to planning the procession, parents from the group also had to contact City Hall to obtain a proper permit and insurance.
The 22 intersections of the route will be manned by volunteers, in an effort to keep the procession of cars together. In addition, volunteers on motorcycles from the Kids and Cancer organization will be leading the procession and following behind.
Later that day, at 7 p.m., a virtual graduation will be held.
In a press release, District Superintendent Katy Pude noted that a dedicated graduation committee has been working on the ceremony for many weeks. Despite McKean County entering the “green phase” on May 29, the graduation will remain virtual, as per guidance by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Pude explained that the size of the BAHS graduating class is the largest in the district within the IU9, which would make social distancing a significant challenge.
Recognizing how important walking across the stage to receive their diplomas is, the school will now be providing designated times for graduates to walk the stage on Friday to receive their diplomas and honor awards. This will be done in small groups in order to ensure the safety of all those involved.
Pude noted that although everyone will miss the traditional ceremony this year, it “does not take away from the accomplishments and potentials of the class of 2020.”
