A non-traditional graduation South Barber's Class of 2020 will never forget

 

The South Barber Class of 2020 members are: (from left, back row) Gage Cantrell, Bryce Duncan, Zane Lyons, Trevor Rooks, Kutter Jewell, Cody Thayer; (front) Maddison Dotts, Mercedes Rogge, Malayna McKitrick, Takira Blick, Hannah McCullough, Adrienne Allison, Desiree Doherty, Ellie McCullough.

"To quote the Grateful Dead from the song "Truckin'," 'what a long strange trip it's been' these last two months," Grade 7-12 Principal Brent Shaffer told the South Barber Class of 2020 graduates and audience at the outdoor commencement on Main Street in downtown Kiowa, Kansas, Monday, May 18.

The original date for commencement was May 9, however due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, such gatherings were not allowed. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly sent out an order the day before the May 9 graduation that it could not happen until May 18. With school closures since mid-March in an attempt to flatten the curve to help stop spread of the contagious virus, high school seniors' spring semester was ruined with cancellation of everything – no prom, no spring sports, no banquets, no awards, etc., and most likely no graduation.

Principal Shaffer thanked all the staff, administration and community members who helped make this outdoor graduation possible. Graduates and their parents rode in golf carts to meet social distancing requirements (six feet apart).

"I want to thank all the parents, students, and community for support during this time," Shaffer said. "I grew up in a town where people waved at each other on the road. Louisburg has grown and nobody waves. I'm happy and proud to live in a town that still waves!"

Principal Shaffer said, "In one of our senior class meetings, somebody brought up, are we "THAT CLASS?" At the time my reply was something along the line that every class thinks they are THAT CLASS. And you have been a good class overall, etc.

"I was wrong. You have become THAT CLASS," he said. "You are THAT CLASS that began the year with new clothes, hope and excitement for what your senior year would bring, and some ready to be sitting here already.

"You are THAT CLASS that had a new volleyball coach for the first time in many years. You are THAT CLASS that led us through a fun football season where it seemed like every game was a home game and ended just short to the eventual state champions and everybody banged up.

"You are THAT CLASS that had two new high school basketball coaches. You are THAT CLASS that had basketball Spirit week and were ready to play and ... the other team called and had to reschedule.

You are THAT CLASS that had their basketball Homecoming ceremony on a Thursday and dance on a Friday.

"Then it happened, not in one big boom, but a quick trickle of events that seemed to cancel everything in its path ... including the use of our school buildings. You are THAT CLASS that is the first class in the history of education in America to finish your senior year online. You handled it, you did it, you finished it. I am proud of you for hanging in there and getting through it.

"You have been given a gift in a way. We preach `Control what you can control.' You have been thrown into a situation that you could not control. The situation through no wrongdoing of your own and with no real control over the bigger picture ... but you have realized that you can still have success, you can still move on positively, you can still succeed! The sun will still come up tomorrow! That is a valuable life lesson. You controlled what you could control."

In closing, Principal Shaffer said, "To borrow from my late friend, South Barber graduate Monty Williams, I wish you all the best of luck in the 'game of life.'

Class President Trevor Rooks

Welcoming everyone to graduation, Class of 2020 President Trevor Rooks gave an impassioned speech, thanking everyone, "Because it took an entire town to get us here. All of the support at athletic games and academic events, all the parades, homecomings, and proms. Without all of that support, none of us would be able to walk across this stage."

Rooks recalled his class beginning with some humor. "For many of us, South Barber has been our home ever since pre-K, when we used to play in our basement classroom with Mrs. Diel. We finally felt like big kids when we moved on up to Mrs. Rooks (in kindergarten), where she taught us how to tie our shoes, even though some of us still have trouble with that," referring – in an ornery tone – to his classmate Gage Cantrell.

He made a statement that really summed up the year for his class: "Throughout your high school career, you try to envision how your last few weeks will go. You wonder just how bad senioritis will be. You question whether you will be sad on your last day of school, or will you be happy that it has finally come? Never in a million years, however, did I think that it would be over when I left the school for spring break. At first, I think many of us were excited at the idea of not having to go back to school for the last nine weeks. But soon, many of us were kind of bummed about all of the things we were going to miss out on. However, we've done what we could to make the best of it; time goes on, the world will keep on spinning, and it is time for us to move forward."

Rooks said, "We have weathered the storm, and are stronger because of it. This class is something special, and I know that we will move on and do amazing things."

Valedictorian Kutter Jewell

Class of 2020 Valedictorian Kutter Jewell thanked everyone for "coming to this not so ordinary graduation ceremony." He thanked families for their "sacrifice and support through our ups and down;" the school faculty, staff and administration for "organizing and coordinating our lives and events;" and the community "who shows endless support for us in our sports and academics. We are truly blessed to grow up in the small town of Kiowa, Kansas.

"Approximately 901,440 minutes ago I first walked into South Barber High School as a junior. That's right, I did the math," Jewell said. In a light-hearted moment, he said in that time he learned some things about his classmates – a few of which are: "Adrienne and Trevor have an argument over something (usually something pointless) almost every single day. I learned that when Malayna and Sadie both get to laughing so uncontrollably that they often snort. I learned that Maddi's size does not reflect the size of her attitude. I learned that Desiree has an infinite hoodie pocket to hold anything and everything on the sideline at football games. And I learned that a friend like Zane can even turn into family."

"One of the greatest things I've learned in the last few years is how valuable time is. As we all move on to the next step of our lives, each and everyone of us has the chance to pick and choose how we spend this time," Jewell said. He told his classmates wherever they go – to the workforce, further education, the military, etc. – "each decision you make has to deal with time. Time is intangible, unable to be touched or grasped, yet it is forever present."

Jewell told his classmates, "We are now in charge of our own time. (...) We have come to the point where time is ours. It has been made very clear to us in our current situation that time is precious. So I remind you that how you spend your time tells others about your character, who you spend time with determines how people perceive you, and where you spend your time gives insight into your desires.

"I believe time is the most underrated currency, so be careful how you spend it. So, as we leave here today, I ask you this question. How will you invest your time?"

Salutatorian Adrienne Allison

Class of 2020 Salutatorian Adrienne Allison said, "In times as uncertain as the present, I would personally like to express my gratitude for the overwhelming support from all of you. Almost a year ago I made a countdown to the date of May 9th anticipating that as our graduation date, and I mean it quite literally when I say that I wasn't sure if this day would ever come. Our lives and plans have undergone immense changes since we left South Barber High School on March 13th, and this ceremony is nothing if not bittersweet. However, tonight is not an event in which I choose to let this pandemic take over as well.

Allison recalled many fun times with her classmates. Such as celebrating many birthdays with her "birthday buddy" Malayna; her two-day long debate with Trevor in Mrs. Beecher's science class if dead fish can reproduce. "By the way Trev, I don't care how many times you refer to the life cycle, dead fish are dead."

Seven of the 14 graduates started school together in pre-K. Allison described her entire class as "exclusive, one of the most tight knit groups I have ever seen. Family."

Wrapping up her remarks, Allison said, "Where we come from, Jeffrey Jahay, our No. 1 fan, leads the band through the hallway as they play "On the Warpath" on game days. Where we come from, we ring the victory bell in front of the museum when we go to state. Where we come from, we get stats that we weren't even aware of from the men at the coffee shop on Saturday morning. Where we come from, Mrs. Henry is basically our saving grace, second mom, and teacher all in one. Where we come from, our community meets at the football field during quarantine to remind us that our senior year is not over and that they will always support us. Where we come from, a parent to one of us is a parent to all of us, and they're crying in the crowd for more than just their one child. Where we come from, our faculty and community organizes not one but two graduation parades to honor our accomplishments. We come from a small town on the Oklahoma/Kansas border and we are the South Barber graduating class of 2020."

 

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