Graduates for the year 2020 never expected their senior year to be derailed by anything, much less an international pandemic. They have looked forward to their senior year and all the activities and ceremonies for years. Prospects of scholarships, college and jobs have faded into the day-to-day news of COVID-19 and how it was affecting the nation.

Suzanne Bennett, of Lake Sherwood Estates, was impacted by listening to her friends, mothers of graduates, who felt their students were losing so much to the virus. She decided to do something about it.

On Thursday, May 21, the residents of Lake Sherwood Estates threw a parade and huge beach party for the 18 students who live there and are graduating from high school this year. Bennett planned the event and called on her neighborhood to help.

“This event shows the spirit of our community,” said Bennett. “We stick together.”

At 5 p.m. students donned their caps and gowns, lined up in decorated cars and traveled through Lake Sherwood’s streets to end up at the clubhouse, where colorful picnic tables dotted the beach. Families could bring food of their own choosing.

Bennett read messages and information about each student, sent in by family and friends. She laughed as she introduced herself as their keynote speaker.

Erica Miller, whose son Aaron, was graduating from Washington High School, felt the loss for her son and her own loss as a parent.

“I think about his first day of school when he got left on the bus,” she said. “You think about those things when you remember his school years. It was heartbreak not to have graduation. This event is history in the making.”

Senior Emily Bledsoe said at first she thought the plan to have a graduation at Lake Sherwood was so sad.

“Now that it’s happening, I’m feeling a lot better,” said Bledsoe. “It’s crazy that your neighborhood would put this on for you. I’m going out with the kids I went in with — all of the people I know. We are having something with just all of us.”

Allison Bledsoe, Emily’s mom, said Emily is her only child, so it will be her only graduation to celebrate.

“These kids were born right after September 11. They are 9/11 babies and pandemic grads,” she said.

Emily Bledsoe said the event meant a lot to her, even though it didn’t happen in the traditional way. She said her plans to attend cosmetology school in St. Louis might change a bit, but she’s working through the changes.

All of the students seemed to have a great time, celebrating their graduation in a non-traditional way. Some of them even thought it might be worth continuing the tradition for the next graduating class, virus or not.