For Samantha Evans, returning to the athletic complex at Warrenton High School on Saturday was a lot happier occasion than when she last graced the turf two-and-a-half months ago.

Brought together by the disappointing news and tears shed over a cancelled soccer season on a mid-March night, she was relieved to rejoin her peers after having her final semester as a senior disrupted by COVID-19.

This time she was among the 233 members of the graduating Class of 2020, most of whom took part in a commencement ceremony that held special meaning for a group of teens distinguished by a global pandemic.

“I’m really glad that we did a semi-normal graduation,” said Mizzou-bound Evans. “I would’ve been a little sad if we’d done just a drive-thru parade.”

Warren County R-III became one of the first districts in the state to host its graduation on the originally scheduled date. Board members chose to modify the ceremony rather than postpone it or eliminate all of the traditional components.

“I’m very appreciative of them for even allowing us to have the ceremony, because there’s a lot of schools around the United States who are not able to,” said Class President Yzabel Alvarez. “I’m just so thankful for the community and our school board for making this decision.”

The district took considerable measures to provide social distancing and ensure the safety of those in attendance. Families were seated in blocks of eight chairs, separated with six feet in between blocks.

“I thought it was a neat event for our kids, and I’m just happy so many people came out to celebrate with us,” said Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith.

Typically, seniors would be seated on the field, but this time their chairs were placed six feet apart around the track. After each senior crossed the stage to receive a diploma, minus the typical handshake, they did a victory lap around the track.

“I was asking one student about the victory lap, and she was telling me she cried the whole way, happy about the experience,” said Klinginsmith, who dispersed diplomas while donning a mask and gloves — a stark reminder of the times.

Venturing from the usual norm of having multiple speakers, Alvarez was the only senior to address the audience. She extended her gratitude toward her support system since moving to the district in eighth grade and delivered a special message to her mother in their native Spanish language.

“It’s nice and refreshing to be back here, because it comes full circle,” said Alvarez. “We get some closure about everything. It’s amazing that I get to see everybody again, before we all go off to college.”

Alvarez plans to attend College of the Ozarks.

This year’s commencement speaker, 2011 graduate Jacob Woods, had his message aired on the digital scoreboard screen. He talked about lessons learned as a NASA employee and left the seniors with the quote “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” from the poem “Invictus.”

The sentiment of appreciation seemed to resound throughout the Class of 2020, which shared in the lost experiences of prom, awards ceremonies and numerous spring sporting events.

“It’s been a rough year for our seniors,” said Klinginsmith. “They’ve missed out on a lot, so I’m glad we were able to give them this.”

“It’s really cool actually being here in person and seeing everyone,” said Estes. “It’s nice that everyone’s working so hard try to make sure we still have all these memories.”

While many area seniors will have to wait another month or two before graduating, members of the WHS Class of 2020 symbolized a chapter closed as they turned their tassels and tossed their caps on Saturday.

“Hopefully our class makes it into history lessons for future generations to study and fail tests on,” quipped Estes, who will continue his journey at Truman State University.