There’s never been a graduation season like this one.

From drive-through ceremonies to streaming online videos, each Fresno-area district has crafted different approaches to honoring the graduating Class of 2020.

Many high school seniors who spoke with The Bee said, while they understand why the coronavirus pandemic has forced schools to postpone traditional commencement ceremonies, they also feel “robbed” of an essential rite of passage. Replacement ceremonies don’t feel like the real thing, but students said they appreciate the efforts school officials are making.

“My graduation experience ended pretty good,” said Central East senior Sean Haymon. “At first, I wasn’t really feeling it. I was supposed to be walking to a real stage with my friends.”

Central East and Central West High Schools in Fresno had drive-through ceremonies for students.

Graduates waited in cars for officials to call out their names. As family, friends and teachers looked on from parking lots, they crossed a stage and, diploma in hand, posed for photos in their caps and gowns.

“It was definitely different, but I think it was kind of better,” said Natalie Lake, a senior at Central West. “It’s kind of something special that no one ever gets to do, and so being a part of it was fun.”

Lake said driving onto the campus gave Central students one last opportunity to see the school in a kind of “closing” ceremony. She said while “a lot of seniors were upset,” she appreciated the school’s effort to make “something special” that “everyone could remember.”

And traditional commencement isn’t the only thing this year’s senior class missed.

“The only thing that really sucks is we’re not able to do our activities like grad night and prom,” Haymon said. “That really brought us down. Some kids have never been to prom.”

‘I feel really, really sad’

While Central Unified schools wrapped up their ceremonies this week, Fresno Unified and Clovis schools are just getting started.

Fresno Unified will hold a virtual ceremony which will be televised, and Clovis Unified is doing small social-distance friendly ceremonies. Both are happening in May and June, and both districts hope to provide students with a larger traditional service once shelter-in-place rules lift.

Seniors around Fresno are lukewarm to the idea of virtual graduation.

“I feel really, really sad, and kind of disappointed that I’m not going to do this once-in-a-lifetime experience like prom and graduation. I didn’t go to prom last year, but this year I was planning on going,” said Ofelia Preciado, a senior at Roosevelt High.

Preciado said she hopes the traditional graduation will happen.

“I am glad they are making an effort to have both of these options. Hopefully, I will still be in California by the time we are allowed to have the live graduation,” said Roosevelt High senior Olivia Konda.

Some seniors aren’t too keen on the idea of a virtual graduation ceremony.

“‘Ughck’ that is literally how I feel,” said Edison High senior Elisha Mendoza. “I’m crying just thinking about it, like internally.”

While the idea of virtual graduation makes her cringe, Mendoza said she supports postponing traditional commencement.

“I am honestly fine losing these events if it means other people are healthy. There is no way I would choose my prom over someone else’s health,” Mendoza said. “I mean, it definitely sucks, but to me, it’s OK.”

Social distancing ceremonies

Principals and parents participating in senior celebrations have come together to plan a “unique” graduation experience for Clovis students.

“We’ve had to revamp a lot of the things that we normally do. What has not changed is the eye for excellence and the idea that this may be the only experience that may happen for them,” Clovis High principal Stephanie Hanks told the Bee.

Each high school will have a small social-distance friendly celebration, which will allow students to walk across the stage at an outdoor stadium to receive their diploma.

“I think it’s such an emotional experience for so many people because it’s that transitional moment where parents look back and go ‘that’s my baby,’” Hanks said.

Each school has a specific graduation schedule. Recorded graduation speeches will be presented for students on graduation day.

“The diploma presentation will be a no-contact presentation with the diploma placed on a table spaced between the graduate and presenter,” said Kelly Avants, a Clovis schools spokesperson.

While students are waiting in line, high school principals have coordinated small surprises to make the event special.

Students will be photographed with their diplomas.

“The photo opportunity is a unique moment that they don’t normally get to get on Lamonica field as they graduate and leave because we ask them to move to a different location. These graduates are unique in that they are going to get to experience things that our normal graduating classes do not,” Hanks said.

Because of the way the mini-ceremonies are set up, some Clovis students may be able to experience a sense of normalcy and cheer on their classmates.

If public health conditions allow, Clovis schools have their sights set on holding traditional graduation ceremonies on July 27 and 28 at the Savemart Center in Fresno.

Should larger events have to be canceled, district officials have said they will inform community members by July 1.

“We’re all really grateful for everything everyone has been doing,” Pfalzgraff said. “Everyone has been really showering us with love and embracing us. They are doing everything they can to make this a positive experience for us.”

Fresno Unified will offer two graduations: a virtual and televised graduation ceremony and a live graduation once the current shelter in place orders are lifted.

Online ceremonies for Fresno Unified begin Thursday and continue through June 3.

“Each celebration will recognize all seniors and include student and staff videos; messages from the board of education, superintendent and principal; certification of graduates; and the turning of the tassel,” Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson said in a news release.

The virtual ceremonies will be broadcast on PBS Channel 18, Comcast XFinity Channel 94, or AT&T U-Verse Channel 99, as well as fresnounified.org and will be available to download.

The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bee’s Education Lab on our website.

This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 10:50 AM.