This has been an interesting year to say the least for Yukon’s graduating seniors.
Many Yukon High School and Southwest Covenant seniors were born in 2001, the year that a deranged militant leader launched terrorist attacks on the U.S. that killed thousands of our citizens on Sept. 11.
This year, members of the Class of 2020 had their final year truncated by a global pandemic that’s also claimed thousands of lives.
School as we have known it changed dramatically during spring break when fears spread quickly about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Few had imagined in mid-March that students wouldn’t return to the classroom for the rest of the 2019-20 school year. Instead, starting in early April, they participated in “distance learning” from home that lasted until the year “officially” ended May 8.
This time has been especially difficult on those graduating seniors who will not experience their senior prom, senior awards ceremonies, senior breakfasts, and the traditional commencement and Project Graduation celebration.
Instead, many graduation activities for large classes across the country moved online.
Some 611 YHS students will graduate next Tuesday night – these Millers just won’t be walking across stage to accept their diplomas at the State Fair Park Arena.
YHS Principal Melissa Barlow says a “virtual” commencement ceremony may be viewed starting at 7:30 p.m. May 19 on Yukon Public Schools’ Facebook page. Members of the YHS Class of 2020 have been making their own slides.
Southwest Covenant’s 25 seniors are looking forward to attending their graduation ceremony in person. The Patriots’ ceremony has been pushed back two weeks to Friday, June 5 at Covenant Community Church’s sanctuary.
The Yukon Christian school is fortunate to have a relatively small class and a large venue that will allow the audience to spread out.
Yukon businesses and the public are pulling together to honor this year’s Yukon and Southwest Covenant seniors who have been missing out on a lot.
The students will be honored from 9-11 p.m. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with the “Seniors on the Silos” project at the historic old “Yukon’s Best Flour” mill at Third and Main.
Pictures of the YHS and SWCS seniors will be projected on the north side of the silos to recognize their accomplishments. Stop by for a view!
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City of Yukon grant writer Claudia Krshka invited the local press to a “re-scheduled” ribbon cutting ceremony next Tuesday, May 19 for the new multi-use trail connecting Yukon to Lake Overholser.
The grant-funded $619,714 project was finished earlier this year, but the dedication was delayed two months because of COVID-19.
The nice, wide trail – which stretches 1.75 miles from Dickenson Park to Yukon’s east boundary on Lakeshore Drive – is ideal for pedestrians and cyclists.
I recently noticed construction crews working on the final segment of the trail on Oklahoma City’s side of Lakeshore.
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KUDOS: Yukon High School junior journalism student Madilyn (Madie) Moore was selected to represent Yukon at the Washington Journalism and Media Conference this July at George Mason University. The conference was canceled (guess why?) but Madie says she’s been ensured a spot next summer.
What a great honor for a YHS student to achieve!
Madie is an aspiring journalist who’s done a great job this semester for The Yukon Progress, all while staying busy with her schoolwork. Madie helps us by writing stories, taking pictures and posting articles to our website and Facebook pages.
Madie’s latest task was laying out all those YHS senior photos for the Yukon Progress full-color graduation supplement that you’ll see soon.
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Yukon Progress sports editor Chuck Reherman is among sports writers who’ve been trying to figure out what to cover since all athletic events have been canceled until further notice.
What a great time for regular “Where Are They Now?” features about past Yukon Miller athletes and coaches.
People can’t wait to see live sports again. I’ve become so frustrated that I found myself tuning into ESPN to watch Korean baseball games.
Watching sports with no crowds isn’t quite the same. Can you picture empty stadiums for OU Sooners and OSU Cowboys’ football games this fall?
Me either.
