MIAMI | Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School’s class of 2020 valedictorian, Zully
Moreno, treasures many fond many memories, but one particularly stands out: celebrating
Mass at the school. A singer in the choir, she considered looking out at her
classmates a blessing.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
May 30, 2020
MIAMI
Archbishop Coleman Carroll High senior Veronica Camacho and classmates stand during the commencement ceremony held on the school grounds on May 30, 2020. Due to COVID-19, parents, families, and friends were asked to watch the ceremony from their vehicles. The school also livestreamed the ceremony on Facebook.
“When
I saw your faces, I experienced the happiness of being together, and yet I knew
that this time at Carroll would not last forever,” Moreno told her fellow graduates
during the outdoor commencement ceremony held on school grounds.
Moreno's
bittersweet realization is common for seniors as their high school years come
to an end. But the graduating class of 2020 was deprived of their last two months
of togetherness by the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down all schools and moved
classes to remote learning. It also meant that iconic activities reserved for
seniors, like prom and graduation, would be uncertain.
But
the students, teachers, faculty, and family at Carroll High would not accept
that. They came up with alternative forms of celebrating, including a
“Quarantine Edition” of prom, a senior drive-by parade, and more. Getting
dressed in cap and gown and walking across the stage to receive a diploma was a
must.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
Dressed in cap and gown, and evenly spaced out, Archbishop Coleman Carroll High's graduating class of 2020 listen to remarks during their outdoor commencement ceremony held May 30, 2020 on school grounds.
And
that's just what they did May 30, 2020, even if the event looked strikingly
different than usual. The 75 seniors were seated on the lawn adjacent to the
school parking lot, all more than six feet apart from each other. Each student was
permitted to bring two vehicles filled with as many family and friends as would
fit. One student, Yancarlos Guerra, saved space by arriving on horseback.
Family
and friends were asked to remain in or by their vehicles and watch the ceremony
from there, augmented by the livestream on the school’s Facebook page. That had
an added advantage as extended family members could tune in from across the
U.S., the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Peru, Argentina and Colombia.
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
Arriving and departing by horseback, graduating senior Yancarlos Guerra from Archbishop Coleman Carroll High proudly displays his diploma after outdoor commencement ceremonies held on school grounds on May 30, 2020.
Although
temperatures were warm, the graduates wore their black graduation regalia
accompanied by protective face masks. Many personalized their look. Kassandrah
Herrera wore white sneakers sporting the phrases “Find your story” and “Spread
your wings.”
Several
students also creatively decorated their caps, adding whimsical or inspirational
quotes like, “Oh the places you will go” (Dr. Seuss); “Your future is what you
make it, so make it a good one” (Doc Brown, “Back to the Future”); and “Four
years later” (time card from “SpongeBob SquarePants”).
Collectively,
Archbishop Carroll’s class of 2020 obtained over $1 million in scholarships and
grants and performed 7,880 hours of community service. Students have been
accepted to local colleges such as Miami Dade College, the University of Miami
and Barry; to state schools such as Florida International University and
Florida State; and to universities across the country such as Catholic U., Penn
State, and Embry Riddle.
In
addition to academic and awards of distinction, Carroll High also recognized
the first batch of graduates from the school’s Achieve program, established
four years ago for students with special needs.
Carmelite
Sister Margaret Ann Laechelin, the school's principal, called the class of 2020
“a gift and a treasure.”
“Their
lives are not controlled by COVID-19 or any other external event, person or
material thing. Created in the image and likeness of God, they will use the
power of their choices to make our world a better place.”
She
reminded graduates that “like faith, a great education is worthless if it does
not make life better for somebody else.”
In
her own address, valedictorian Moreno agreed.
“We
are empowered to overcome any challenge. Whether it comes in the form of an
epidemic, or economic hardships, or a rapidly changing world, you, my dear
friends, are the answers," she said. "You are the next historical
hero. You are the next great saint. You are the next perfect father or perfect
mother. It’s you.”
Photographer: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO| FC
With COVID-19 safety measures in effect, parents, families and friends of Archbishop Coleman Carroll High graduates were requested to wait by their cars, or behind the school's sidewalk, as they watched the commencement ceremony May 30, 2020.