‘We have persevered’: Central seniors honor fallen classmate at in-person graduation
Wednesday night’s graduation event at Garrett-Harrison Stadium was a remarkable moment for the 2020 seniors, who had already accepted they would have a virtual ceremony to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
It was one of five consecutive graduation ceremonies Central High School is conducting this week — believed to be the first in-person conferring of high school diplomas in Alabama since Gov. Kay Ivey last week eased stay-at-home restrictions implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
But this gathering was also special for another reason:
Among the 77 names called was Chris Rogers, the class president who died in Piedmont Columbus Regional’s midtown hospital Aug. 13, 2019, four days after sustaining blunt force trauma in a crash with a Phenix City Schools bus.
His parents, sister and best friend accepted the diploma cover on his behalf after “Christopher Michael Rogers” was announced at Trawick Fields’ 50-yard line. An otherwise empty chair held his cap, gown and cords. As the crowd applauded, someone in the bleachers hollered, “We love you, Chris!”
In her speech, salutatorian Mya Richardson explained how Chris served as an example for his classmates.
“He shared his joy with the world to the best of his ability,” she said. “And from Chris, we all can learn how to go through difficult times, using our intelligence, expressiveness, charm, confidence and smile.”
Persevering through loss
Too much has been taken away from these students by forces beyond their control: COVID-19 stole their prom, picnic and prank, a normal end to their last semester and a traditional graduation for all of them together. And tragic deaths stole three of their friends.
In addition to losing Chris, this class has mourned the January shooting death of Bryce Davis, a junior who was friends with many of them, and the 2015 drowning of Coleton Brown, a middle school classmate.
“Let us not fret about the past that cannot be changed but instead anticipate the future, no matter how unpredictable,” valedictorian Amber McVay told her classmates. “… We have persevered together this entire year and have thus also grown closer. Never forget that this is where our roots are. No matter how far away we are from this town later in life, we can always trace our footsteps back to here.
“Central Red Devils, go prove to the world how incredible we all are.”
Phenix City Schools superintendent and Central principal Tommy Vickers noted some of the remarkable accomplishments these students already have achieved.
Wilkes said this class set a school record when 92% of its members showed on state test scores they are ready for college or a career. The 2019 class had the previous record at 85%.
All of which helped Phenix City Schools earn its first “A” on the state report card, Wilkes said, soaring from a “C” the previous year and making it the most improved school system out of 138 districts in Alabama.
“This class has endured more and overcome more trials and tribulations than any class before,” Vickers said. “The class of 2020 excelled in academics, athletics and all extracurricular activities, representing Phenix City and Central High School across the state as a premier high school in Alabama.”
Precaution and celebration
Friday, when the graduation plan was changed from virtual to in-person, the 411 senior class members started signing up for one of the five ceremonies. Each ceremony is limited to less than 100 students, and each graduate could have no more than four guests, who sit 6 feet apart from other families and are separated by two rows of bleachers, marked by yellow caution tape.
The graduates stay at least 6 feet apart as they march in and out of the stadium and walk to the podium to pick up their diploma cover and return to their seat, properly spaced on the artificial turf.
Wearing masks at the ceremony is optional.
Frances McVay was among the guests Wednesday. She also was there Monday and Tuesday and planned to be there Thursday and Friday, to watch Amber give her valedictory speech.
“This is a blessing,” McVay, an eighth-grade science teacher at South Girard School, told the Ledger-Enquirer. “We’re very honored that we have this opportunity, that Central found a way to see our children graduate and that they get to be together to celebrate together.”
McVay said she didn’t have any health concerns about the ceremonies.
“I think they planned it out so well,” she said. “They took everything into consideration to make sure we’re all as safe as possible.”
McVay also appreciates the guests obeying the rules.
“Each night, people are following them,” she said. “They’re even helping each other out.”
After the ceremony, Amber put the event in perspective.
“We have not been able to see each other in two months,” she said. “This was a beautiful way to bring everyone together, and I’m honored to be able to come every night to speak in front of my class.
“I feel very bad for those who have to have it online, but I feel like this is a stepping stone so that other high schools who have not yet held their graduation can maybe follow in our footsteps and keep the 6-feet distance so that students can see each other as they graduate.”
For a class that had more than its fair share of loss, getting graduation back in some way, Amber said, “is a great way to end. The ceremony was just what we needed.”
Russell County High School has changed its graduation plan from a “drive-in” ceremony to a format similar to Central. Click here for a roundup of the latest information about high school graduations in the Columbus area.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 1:51 PM.
