Adopt A 2020 Senior

By Lauren Hermes

2020 – a bittersweet time in the lives of the senior class. While many would be planning their graduation parties to celebrate with family and friends, the celebrations have been put on hold as the world faces the COVID-19 epidemic together.

Graduation day is the culmination of years of dedication and hard work. It’s a day that the seniors have been looking forward to while ordering their caps and gowns, submitting applications to colleges, and making plans for their next step toward adulthood. While the actual ceremony may not take place, our local community has rallied together to celebrate and honor them.

What started as an online group to "adopt" a senior by sending them letters of encouragement and acknowledgement, turned in to a city-wide endeavor. Businesses are stepping up, offering to donate services to the class of 2020.

Citizens are organizing drive-by parades with banners and flags to celebrate the accomplishments of so many. In a time of such uncertainty for what the future holds for so many, we as a community are coming together to help create a wonderful lasting memory for such a deserving group of people.

The Senior I adopted is Gavin D. He attended the Academy of Media Arts and Technology at Rossview High School. He also celebrated his 18th birthday in quarantine. He worked hard throughout school and it definitely paid off. He was accepted and will attend his dream school, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) this fall to earn a BA in animation.

Gavid D., of Rossview High School, Class of 2020

Photo by Mandy Chadwick

If you'd like to adopt a senior, you can join their group on facebook. Search for Adopt a CMCSS Senior 2020 and request to join.

From the Adopt a Senior page description: Spread your love for our Class of 2020 by adopting a senior during these unprecedented events. Parents post a picture of your senior, state their school and after graduation plans. Tell us about your senior. Their favorite color; favorite food or restaurant; favorite music and/or local places of interest, etc.

The person wanting to adopt your senior will post “adopted” to your photo. Once adopted, edit your post so that we know your senior has been adopted. The parent and adopter can now begin communicating with each other. Adopters can make baskets, send cards or homemade items and request to have items mailed to their senior. It is beneficial to the senior that their adopter remains in contact with them weekly.

Adopting a senior is an attainable way to spread positivity in an effort to remind the senior that they are loved and important to us.

Adopted senior, Taya Wallace, is all smiles with her goodies she received from Dina Tue.