Photo by Heather Bell – If all goes as planned, families will be able to watch their graduating seniors receive their diplomas in person, but Bobcat Stadium will be divided by family to ensure social distancing and not have the close proximity of people seen in this 2018 photo of that year’s graduation audience.
Heather Bell
RADFORD – If all goes as planned, the Radford High School Class of 2020 will be getting a fairly traditional graduation ceremony, tentatively set for June 26 at Bobcat Stadium.
Radford City Public Schools Superintendent Robert Graham said Tuesday the plan for the ceremony is set, provided Gov. Ralph Northam allows Virginia to proceed with phase two “re-opening” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As of right now we are on for June 26th,but this is all contingent on the governor re-opening the state for phase two,” Graham said Tuesday morning.
Graham said the relatively small size of Radford’s graduating classes will allow the school to maintain social distancing by utilizing the entire stadium to separate all graduates and commencement speakers from each other by six feet and family groups from other family groups by six feet as well. He explained families will each have an assigned location in the bleachers, both on the home and visitor sides, and will be able to sit next to each other, but each family will be separated from the next family by the recommend six feet for appropriate social distancing. The stage will be at the 50-yard line.
Graham said he is proud of the way the students have weathered the non-traditional way their senior year ended and called the Class of 2020 “a really special class.”
These students were on their way to being one of the most highly decorated classes we’ve ever had, starting out the year with state championships and accolades in athletics and academics,” he said. “This is really a special class and we think it is important to recognize these seniors in any way we can.”
“For them to lose the last part of their senior year, one of the times you have the most fun in your school career, is really tough and they have handled it really well,” he continued. “Our community has been a great partner in this too – the people, the businesses, the City – we have seen so much outpouring of support and we really appreciate it.”
The June 26 commencement ceremony is currently set for 9 a.m. on June 26 at Bobcat Stadium.
