HHS Class of 2020 Celebrates Commencement
Class salutatorian of the HHS Class of 2020 Valorie Slack tosses her cap in the air on Friday, May 8, to signify the conclusion of commencement. Valorie was one of 59 graduating seniors from this year’s senior class of 72 students who took part in individual graduation ceremonies held May 5 through May 8 in the high school gym. Along with earning the honor of salutatorian, Valorie was awarded several academic scholarships, along with an athletic scholarship from UCM. She is the daughter of RT and Christie Slack. Photo by Steve Edwards
The 72 members of the HHS Class of 2020 are celebrating their accomplishments of the last 13 years!
The R-III District has been holding individual graduation ceremonies for the seniors May 5-8, as a way to honor them in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Class of 2020 will have some unique memories of their senior year, which included an unprecedented school shutdown due to COVID-19 and a subsequent quarantine order.
However, the district is making sure the seniors will be not miss out on graduating with their class, as a traditional graduation ceremony will be held on Sunday, July 12 at 2 p.m., so the graduates can celebrate with their classmates and extended families.
The HHS Class of 2020 chose as their class flower – the yellow rose; their class colors are gold and navy; and their class song is “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts.
As their class motto, they selected “When you take risks you learn that there will be times when you succeed and there will be times when you fail, and both are equally important.” – Ellen DeGeneres
Although their senior year has been filled with challenges no one could have imagined, the classmates haven’t let that dampen their spirits or quell their excitement in achieving this long-awaited goal.
The Image will continue to follow the graduates and cover the traditional graduation in July.
Graduating senior Peyton Hon (center) poses with his sister Hayley Hon (left), and mother Jennifer Guymon after receiving his high school diploma on Friday, May 8. Holden held individual commencement ceremonies for each student of this year’s graduating class with seven guests in attendance in the gym for each graduate. The intimate setting allowed for unique photo opportunities such as this pose with Peyton, Hayley, and their mother being allowed to step up on the stage. Peyton and his classmates definitely had a graduation ceremony to remember.
Photo by Steve Edwards
See the July 9 and 16 issues of the Holden Image for a senior collage, featuring photos from their senior video, and also the announcement of scholarship recipients.
Join the graduates on Sunday, July 12, for a commencement celebration and to wish them well in their future endeavors!
HHS graduating senior Olivia Butler moves toward the steps to the stage in the high school gym to accept her diploma from HHS principal Dr. Ginger Jones on Friday, May 8. Due to social distancing guidelines, seven guests of the graduate were allowed in the gym for each graduation ceremony. Olivia’s guests, including her mother Sara, are pictured in the background. Olivia was one of 59 seniors who took part in individual graduation ceremonies held by the school district May 5-8. Olivia is the daughter of Josh and Sara Butler. Photo by Steve Edwards
HHS graduating senior Karissa Meads prepares to enter Holden High School for her individual graduation ceremony on Friday, May 8. Of Holden’s 72 graduating seniors, 59 took part in the individual ceremonies held May 5-8. Karisssa is the daughter of Gretchen and Danny Meads. The individual ceremonies were held in place of a standard commencement ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic. Statewide social distancing guidelines temporarily do not allow large gatherings of crowds. The R-III District is holding a traditional graduation ceremony on July 12, if social gathering limits are lifted at that time.
Photo by Steve Edwards
Graduating with honors in the HHS Class of 2020, Hayley Newell, daughter of Brett and Holly Newell, walks across the stage in the Holden High School gym after receiving her diploma on Friday, May 8. Hayley was one of the 59 graduating seniors from the HHS senior class of 72 who took part in individual graduation ceremonies at the high school May 5-8. Photo by Steve Edwards
