By Ben Rodgers
Editor
DE PERE – It wasn’t a typical graduation ceremony, but for eight West De Pere High School Class of 2020 graduates and countless others, 2020 wasn’t a typical school year.
Eyrn Carney, Zoie Dinehart, Evan Fayas, Sawyer Grovogel, Ethan Habetler, Joseph Luna Baez, Lauren Mainard and William Wyatt walked across the stage and received their high school diplomas during a modified graduation ceremony Tuesday, June 23, in the West De Pere High School auditorium.
All eight will be unable to attend the planned graduation ceremony slated for Aug. 12.
“That was very nice,” said Dinehart after the ceremony. “It was very sweet. It was short, simple and to the point. It was very much appreciated.”
Dinehart, who will be attending Southern Illinois University to major in psychology, previously participated in a graduation ceremony at her home, complete with a bagpiper, but Tuesday night proved special.
“It’s my last memory here,” she said. “It’s definitely a good note to go out on.”
Luna Baez is shipping out to basic training July 7 at Fort Benning, Georgia, to join the U.S. Army as infantry.
“It feels great,” Luna Baez said. “It wasn’t that big, but still I love it because my family was here and that’s all I need.”
During the ceremony, about 50 people in the auditorium heard recordings from the West De Pere High School choir and band.
Superintendent Dennis Krueger presented the class and offered words of wisdom as they parted the auditorium as the only eight graduates in the Greater Green Bay area to walk across a stage and receive a diploma in 2020.
“As you leave here today, look back with pride and always know there are people here who care about you and your journey,” Krueger said.
Wyatt, who gave the student address, was set to arrive at Concordia University, St. Paul, for football July 20, but has already seen the date pushed back to Aug. 10.
In his speech, Wyatt mentioned how this class is well-equipped to handle adversity.
“COVID-19 has shown us we can push through tough times and see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
Parent Tim Grovogel was proudly wearing a Duke University polo shirt.
His son has been awarded a nearly full academic scholarship to the Durham, North Carolina, campus.
He said the modified ceremony meant everything for his son, but he wasn’t shy about the importance for him and his wife, Amy.
“I think it wound up being more important to his mother and I than him,” he said. “For us, it was great to see him walk across the stage.”
Jenni Fuss, school board president, said this moment was a capstone after a tumultuous end to school year, but there are lessons to be learned for the graduates.
“The last three months may have been a mess at times, but it’s also your opportunity to share a message of hope, resilience and optimism,” Fuss said.