Fowlerville News and Views Online

Fowlerville High to hold virtual graduation next Sunday, 
May 31, followed by car processional June 7
   Given that a traditional, in-person commencement ceremony would not happen in the near future, Fowlerville school officials are holding a virtual graduation for the Class of 2020 next Sunday, May 31, followed by a car processional on Sunday, June 7.
    Bradford Lusk, the high school principal, said that the virtual event—which starts at 2 p.m.—will attempt “to mimick a traditonal graduation as much as possible.”
    “The pictures of each of our seniors will be shown and there’ll be the music of ‘Pomp and Circumstance’,” he said. “One of the seniors, Jacob King, will sing the National Anthem. Then Superintendent Wayne Roedel and I will give our welcoming speeches, and Mike Brown, the school board president, will introduce members of the board of education.”
   Also giving addresses will be Summer Brooke McLane Svoboda, the valedictorian, and Josh Harper, the salutatorian. One of the class officers, Jordan Davidson, will thank the senior class advisor, Jason Speery.
    Lusk said that the Class of 2020 has 175 graduating seniors.
    The ceremony will be shown on the high school’s You Tube channel. Anyone wishing to view it can Google fhsglads to access You Tube.
   “The speeches will be prerecorded, but the ceremony will start at 2 p.m. on our You Tube channel at the same time it would have were it the regular in-person event,” Lusk said.
   Fowlerville normally holds its commencement exercises on the first Sunday after Memorial Day.
   In order for the seniors to enjoy a ‘live’ celebration and final gathering as a class, a procession will take place the following Sunday, June 7. Each of the graduates, wearing their graduation cap and gown, will be driven along Grand River in a vehicle from the fairgrounds, through the Downtown, to Hibbard Street, and then through the school campus to the high school
   At the Main 4 interection of the Downtown, each senior will be introduced and receive their diploma. After reaching the school grounds, each of them will have their photo taken.
   In case of rain, the procession will be held on June 14.
   Lusk said the decision to hold the virtual graduation ceremony, followed by the processional came when it became apparent that an in-person event would not be possible in the near future.
   “All the signs show that a larger gathering of people was not likely to happen anytime soon,” he said. “We wanted to do the best could under the circumstances and have a celebration for the kids and given them a unique graduation.”