Class of 2020
Chasing Dreams At A Distance By Diane White McNaughton • Photos Courtesy of Graduates
C
ongratulations, Class of 2020! In the immortal words of a black-capped Reese Witherspoon in “Legally Blonde,” “We did it!” You read the books, wrote the essays, passed the tests, survived the cafeteria specials. But now, at the hands of a sinister-smart virus, your traditional march down a crowded aisle lined with beaming family members and friends (and a few bored siblings) to the tunes of “Pomp and Circumstance” will be replaced with Graduation, The Home Edition. Even during a global pandemic, your academic achievements still reign undiminished, and your family members, teachers, and schools remain undeterred in their efforts to dream up creative, quarantine-friendly ways to salute you in socially-distancing style. They may not be able to overlook an ocean of mortarboard caps, hear random cheers from overly enthusiastic family members, and hug you and your friends like there’s no tomorrow, but most parents, schools and students have risen to the “graduation in quarantine” challenge with a sense of humor, creativity and tech-savvy salutes. “This class is resilient,” says Angie Durantine, mom to Lower Dauphin High School graduate Elijah. “They were born during 9/11 and graduate during COVID-19.” Maria Spizzieri, mother of four, including Angelina, a graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School, says many parents are angry at the loss of so many memories and milestones for their seniors. But as the wife of a cardiologist, she and Angelina, a small but mighty powerlifter, have accepted those things they cannot change. Safety comes first. “We’re all stuck in the same position. Stuck at home,” she says. Her family is taking a “wait-and-see approach” to parties and making the best of a bad situation by going camping, working out in a hastily constructed home gym, and having Zoom link-ups. Melissa Gizzi, mother to college senior Katie from Clemson University, along with an older daughter 6 HARRISBURG MAGAZINE JUNE 2020
Nichole who earned her master’s degree as a nurse practitioner this year while battling breast cancer, says Clemson made the decision to completely close its campus over spring break. “There were no hugs, no best wishes, no goodbyes,” Gizzi says. “Clemson is committed to bringing the seniors back to campus for an inperson ceremony this fall, but the opportunity to have those goodbyes are likely to be far less.” These devoted parents and schools have decided to write a new chapter alongside the Class of 2020. They have lined the grassy carpet of school campuses and their front lawns with balloons and colorful signs bearing the names of their graduates. They are still snapping photos of graduates in full cap and gown, sharing their pride and joy on Facebook. Some have even accessorized their snapshots with the coveted toilet paper roll and omnipresent surgical mask. “Proms” for two or four have been held in backyards transformed with strings of white lights; parades of honking, decorated cars have crawled by graduates’ homes; media outlets have featured outstanding student-athletes; and video salutes set to nostalgic music have still generated many memories, misty eyes, and tear-stained faces. Like many other schools, the Susquehanna Twp. School District has taken their graduation virtual for the first time ever. According to Outreach Coordinator Takia Colston-Krow, the senior class will walk the stage, decorated with fresh flowers, a banner, and a podium, instead of the typical Farm Show setting. Each senior’s walk in full cap and gown will be photographed and recorded, and these individual videos will be edited to create one virtual procession, to be streamed live in June on the district’s website and Facebook page. Four family members are permitted to view the iconic walk across the stage, but masks and six-feetapart seating are a must. The name of each graduating senior and their
Angelina Spizzieri
Elijah Durantine
