65 graduate from PHS in modified ceremony

PRESCOTT – Mortarboards flew into the air at the conclusion of the Class of  2020’s commencement ceremony Thursday night at Cummings Stadium.

It took two months for the graduation to be held because of the coronavirus and everything being shut down, but the seniors got their graduation, though in a modified format. Most years, the students face the home stands for graduation, making their entrance by walking up the track to take their seats. Thursday, though, virus protocols were in place and the graduates entered by walking down the middle of the football field, all wearing face masks, before taking their seats, facing the south end zone.

One chair was set aside, draped in a cap and gown. It was reserved for Katie Cummings who would have graduated this year, had she not passed away a few years ago from cancer.

The crowd entered wearing masks, but soon removed them as social distancing simply didn’t happen in the stands. Quite a few people made use of the visitor’s side of the stadium as the home side was packed with family, friends and well-wishers of the seniors.

Normally, the highest honor graduates give speeches before the diplomas are handed out. This didn’t happen Thursday night, though the highest and honor graduates were recognized with their medals presented to them at the beginning of the ceremony. Once these seniors were honored, the diplomas were presented to the 62 students present. There were 65 in the graduating class, but three weren’t present as they’d joined the military.

It was a rough evening for everyone as the temperature hovered around 90 degrees with the humidity roughly 90 percent with no breeze to speak of blowing. Programs were used as fans by those in the stadium and the seniors. When the graduates received their diplomas, these were used as fans as they could generate more of a breeze to help try and cool down. After the last diploma was awarded, the benediction was given and the graduates were confirmed. Mortarboards flew into the air, and some of the graduates began removing their caps and gowns to try and cool down somewhat by losing a layer of clothing.

The Highest Honor grads were:Brook Burton, Sara Cobb, Christopher Dalrymple, Eva Delgado, Tyler Doucet, Abigail Dougan, Maggie Grimes, Emily Henderson, Taylor Johnson, Kashia Ly, Kabe Munn and Cade Poole.

The Honor grads were: Gabrielle Chandler, Destiny Jones, Marlee Morman, Trever Moseley, Derriun Thompson, Carly Vanhook and Hope West.

The PHS Classof 2020 was: Dy’Aisha Anderson, Garrett Avery, Edward Barzar, Jr., Cassidy Callicott, Gabrielle Chandler, Sara Cobb, Ashliegh Cole, Colby Cox, Christopher Dalrymple, Eva Delgado, Tyler Doucet, Abigail Dougan, Aria Dudgeon, Donovan Emerson, Rebekah Evans, Nazara Featherston, Christin Flenory, Colton Gierth, Kaley Green, Maggie Grimes, Jamie Gulley, Jr., Tyrese Gully, Alexandria Harris, Damian Hawthorne, Emily Henderson, Cory hill, Daniel Hill, Diamond Hopson, Dawson Howard, Brandi Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Destiny Jones, Zyah Jones, Marlon Juarez, Dalton Kenworthy, Trent Knight, Kiana Lacy, Kiera Leggett, Kashia Ly, Zorana Marks, Abigael Martin, Marlee Morman, Trevor Moseley, Kabe Munn, Jadarian Newton, Dominick Niven, Jacob Ojeda, Javel Page, Ky’Ree Pearson, Cade Poole, Trina Powell, Brston Samuels, Lark Smith, Austin Stokes, Bralayzia Stuart, Carrington Swopes, Derriun Thompson, Carly Vanhook, James Wall, Johnny Weaver, Jr., Tristian Webb, Hope West, Cerin Wilson and Jorge Zaldivar.

The graduates met up with family, friends and other well wishers after the ceremony as no one was allowed on the field before, during or after graduation.