Manatee High graduates forge ahead with lessons learned from pandemic

Manatee High School’s class of 2020 may face unprecedented challenges ahead in a world shaken up by pandemic. But as a delayed graduation date finally rolled around in July’s heat, the students didn’t show any fear about the future.

Instead, they displayed a drive to adapt and overcome with faith in themselves and a little help from friends and family.

Schoolmates that had not been together since classes were abruptly transferred online in March were reunited for a commencement ceremony on Tuesday night. The big day for the seniors was made a little more special by the backdrop of Hawkins Stadium.

The graduation was relocated from LECOM Park to its traditional location at Hawkins thanks to a petition created by senior Shelby Eikel in May. It was signed by thousands of students, family members and alumni, and School District of Manatee County officials promptly approved the location swap.

Friends and family clad in masks sat spread out in the bleachers as the graduates streamed into the football stadium and lined the field on socially-distanced dots.

After the triumphant entrance, there was a somber moment as Principal David Underhill announced a moment of silence for Ramon Morales.

Morales, a Manatee High School custodian of 13 years who was admired by many, recently died from complications of a COVID-19 infection. He was 64.

In student speeches, the pandemic was an unavoidable subject.

“COVID-19 completely blew away any expectations of our last quarter at Manatee,” said student council president Sarah Yadven. “As we left MHS excited for spring break, we didn’t realize that it would be our last day, and that spring break would turn into quarantine.”

Yadven also shared some of the lessons that the time period had already taught.

“We heave learned not to take things for granted these past few months. And as cliche as it sounds, we now know how important it is to cherish every moment with the people we love.”

“Despite what seems to be the unthinkable thrown at us seniors, we persevered and made it to this day,” said senior class president Isabell Zeppi. “Take a moment to look around and acknowledge that we faced a global pandemic and still made it here. If that’s not resilience and grace, I’m not sure what is.”

Underhill compared the future ahead for the students to a road full of exits, potholes and roadblocks.

“That does not mean that you will give up and stop,” Underhill said. “You keep pushing forward, because as long as you dream, you can achieve.”

In honor of the year 2020, Delanie Grider, a speaker chosen by her classmates, talked about the importance of having a vision for one’s life.

“Vision allows us to see what’s invisible to others. Without it, time merely passes by. It gives us hope.”

Grider encouraged students to better themselves and society rather than settling for the status quo, citing the nationwide movement against racial injustice as an example.

“We’ve watched one name after another represent the need to challenge racial injustice in America. The need to challenge ourselves, our biases, our institutions, and the need to vote.”

On Tuesday, one vision came true for Grider and classmates: graduation.

“We all found something to keep us going,” Grider said. “We knew that it would be all of us or none of us walking across the stage, and we all showed up a little more grateful.”

“Be proud of what you’ve accomplished these past four years,” said Kiara Fulk, the final student speaker. “We learned so much that we never even expected to learn in high school. But I think our class learned a little bit more. We had to learn how to say goodbye without even getting the chance. And learning how to deal with that is something very important in life.”

The ceremony ended with the traditional toss of graduation caps before the new graduates rushed off the field to meet friends and family.

This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 7:32 AM.