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STEUBENVILLE -- After missing out on most traditional senior year rites of passage, Steubenville High School's Class of 2020 will get its diplomas today and Thursday in a virtual ceremony.
Principal Ted Gorman said the virtual ceremony will allow students to cross the stage, accept their diploma and have their picture taken, all while adhering to state-mandated social distancing guidelines.
"With seniors missing out on so many end-of-the-year activities -- they're missing their prom, they missed their senior banquets, plays, the senior cookout -- there are so many activities they missed, this is just an opportunity to let them go out on a high note."
Gorman said they're still planning a traditional graduation ceremony June 24 at Harding Stadium, though whether it happens will depend on the social distancing restrictions in place a month from now.
"We're holding out hope we can have it on that date," Gorman said. "I'm not sure if the guidelines will be loosened enough to do that. It's a big stadium, we can spread people out but we don't know if the guidelines will be loose enough for us to have that event."
Gorman said each of the graduating seniors was assigned a 45-minute window to report to the school for their virtual graduation, which will be held in the gymnasium. Each senior can bring up to four guests. Social distancing protocols will be observed throughout.
"We'll have security, an administrator at the door," he said. As each of the grads walk across the stage in their cap and gown, their names will be announced, photographs will be taken and the proceedings videotaped.
"These seniors went through more than any other senior class in the history of the school, having to deal with the pandemic and be resilient and they came out on top of this whole situation," Gorman said. "Really, the teachers, the board of education, the superintendent ... everybody's looking for ways to try to celebrate seniors, this is just one way we can celebrate our seniors."
He said Big Red teachers "dropped off senior signs to the kids at their houses, the senior class decorated their doors and the school bought them senior T-shirts.
"We still want to try and do as many of the celebrations we can do, but we have to follow the guidelines set out," he added.
Gorman said this year's senior class of 153 is one of the smallest in school history, though Big Red "will have 190 freshman coming in next year."