It’s safe to say that this school year did not go as planned for many seniors. What was supposed to be their senior slide into summer turned into a quarter of stay at home and social (we prefer physical) distancing. Many final moments were lost into the virtual world of zoom rooms, including Prom, Award Ceremonies, and Graduations. While there are certainly disappointments, our Seniors are celebrated and loved by our community. This page is dedicated to the events held in their honor.
Congratulations Class of 2020!
Senior Spotlights
Click on image to open full size image gallery and read what our seniors have had to say about their time at New Life Academy.
Senior Parade
A relatively new tradition, students in preschool through grade 11 will line the halls of the school and give our seniors dressed in cap and gown high fives and they leave New Life Academy. This year, due to the pandemic and school closure, we recreated the Senior Parade virtually with Soarin.
Senior Night
Each year, our celebration begins with a Senior Awards ceremony followed by our Commencement the following evening. This year, we held a parking lot senior night to recognize what would have been their original graduation ceremony (May 15). Each senior had an assigned parking spot and was delivered a graduation bag that included awards, recognitions, caps, and gowns. At the end of the ceremony, each senior released a biodegradable balloon to mark the original graduation date. Click below to open the image gallery.
Personal Graduation Ceremonies
To recognize this major milestone and rite of passage for seniors, we conducted individual ceremonies for each senior. For one full week, each senior had a personal ceremony with their family (limit of 8 members) in a physically distanced and safe manner. Seniors were able to wear their caps and gowns and experience walking the stage to receive their diploma. Video of each ceremony was captured to provide a livestream Commencement for the entire class on May 29.
Class of 2020 Commencement Ceremony (LiveStream May 29, 2020)
To celebrate the entire class of 2020, we will be Live Streaming the full ceremony on May 29 at 7 pm.
00:10 Pomp and Circumstance
05:13 Welcome & Charge to Graduates – Dr. Locklear
26:45 Academic Career Plaques – Lynn Atkinson
27:46 Salutatorian – Abby Swenson
31:30 Valedictorian – Isabel Butler
34:40 Diploma Presentation
42:17 Class of 2020 Slideshow
47:23 Time of Dedication
50:05 Benediction – Morningstar
51:14 Closing Prayer and Presentation of Class