It’s not the graduation anyone originally envisioned, but the Class of 2020’s celebration will be one for the books.

Powell will honor graduates in outdoor ceremonies Sunday afternoon. The Shoshone Learning Center’s graduation begins at 12:30 p.m. in the Powell High School parking lot, while the PHS ceremony follows at 2 p.m.

“As far as I know, this is the first time we have had pre-recorded speeches, a ceremony in the parking lot, or a parade to follow the ceremony,” said PHS Principal Tim Wormald. “Lots of firsts this year.”

The Class of 2020 has seen “some remarkable highs and lows,” he said, and accomplished great things in the classroom and in extracurricular pursuits.

“It was a senior-laden boys tennis team that brought home the school’s first-ever state championship,” Wormald said. “A few weeks later, the Panther football team, led by a strong group of seniors, played for the state title in Laramie.”

In addition, the Class of 2020 also presented “outstanding performances on the stage in plays like ‘Legally Blonde,’” he said, and created “incredible music for our band and choir.”

“This is also a strong academic class,” Wormald said.

Collectively, the group earned over $2.6 million in scholarships and averaged a 21 on the ACT. Seniors posted a 3.16 average GPA.

“Maybe of more importance, though, the group came together and showed their grit in facing some very difficult challenges this year,” Wormald said.

Students came together to support their classmate Ethan Asher and one another after Asher was severely injured in a wreck on the second day of school.

“They also have come together to support each other when the school was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Wormald said. “Even though they did not get to spend the last couple months of their senior year together, I think they will be closer in the long run because of the unique circumstances they have experienced.”

During Sunday’s ceremonies, 129 PHS graduates and 13 SLC grads will have the opportunity to cross the stage and receive their diplomas.

Due to the limited number of parking spaces available, attendance at the PHS ceremony will be limited.

“No one will be permitted to enter the parking lot without a school-issued parking pass,” Wormald said.

The PHS ceremony will be broadcast on KPOW (1260 AM) and available on the radio station’s website. Park County School District No. 1 will also try to broadcast the ceremony on Facebook Live.

In pre-recorded messages, Grant Dillivan will provide the opening prayer, followed by Nic Fulton’s salutatorian address and Jay Cox’s valedictorian address. Wormald also will provide some brief comments.

The principal said he is “so very proud” of the senior class for the ways they supported one another through highs and lows and “how well they have finished their senior year despite the less than favorable situation in which we find ourselves.”

“They have demonstrated Panther pride to the fullest,” Wormald said.

SLC graduation

Shoshone Learning Center Principal Steve Lensegrav described the Class of 2020 as resilient.

“The year has thrown some hurdles at this class that previous classes have not had to clear,” he said.

The shift to online learning brought a shift in how teachers and staff could provide needed support to SLC students, Lensegrav said. 

“After a period of adjusting for everyone involved, our students have dug down, regrouped very well, and are striving toward their future goals,” the principal said. “I am very excited for them and very grateful for the hard work that they and the staff have put in.”

Since the Shoshone Learning Center has fewer students, spectator vehicles will be permitted to enter the PHS lot and park in the second row for that ceremony. Students will be assigned a parking space in the row in front of the stage.

As with PHS seniors, SLC graduates will be able to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.

The ceremony will be filmed and a link will be made available to view the ceremony on the SLC’s website. 

“We are not airing the ceremony on KPOW since everyone will be able to be close enough to the stage to hear the announcements,” Lensegrav said.

After the ceremony, SLC graduates and spectators will clear the parking lot in order to allow PHS graduates to start to enter.

Following the PHS graduation, SLC students will join PHS graduates to take part in the parade.

Community invited to participate in parade

Since attendance at Sunday’s graduation ceremonies will be limited, the community is invited to celebrate Powell graduates by lining the route for the parade that will follow the graduation ceremonies, said PHS Principal Tim Wormald.

The parade will start at about 3 p.m. and will take the graduates south on Panther Boulevard to Coulter Avenue, west on Coulter to Clark Street, north on Clark to Fourth Street, west of Fourth to Bent Street, south on Bent to Coulter, west on Coulter to Road 10.

“It would be great for community members to show their support of this senior class who have had to deal with quite a bit of adversity during this, their senior year,” Wormald said.