Rolla High School held an historic and unprecedented graduation ceremony Saturday, June 13.

Administrators, office and custodial staff put in extra effort to create a beautiful tribute to the class of 2020 on the turf field at the high school. Following guidelines by state and health officials, the graduates were seated six feet apart on the field, while families enjoyed the celebration from the stands. Senior speakers, who were selected through an audition, encouraged classmates to be the change that the world needs, to remember the people who got them there, and to take the lessons of this strange time in our country and do good.

Early in the commencement, a transformer went out and the lights were off, but Rolla Municipal Utilities came to the rescue just after dark and the field lit up again. Head principal Dr. Jim Pritchett always takes things in stride, and announced, “That RMU person was probably a RHS graduate.” Applause errupted.

Graduates walked across the stage and received their diploma and were smiles from ear to ear. In the end, the graduates had given Dr. Pritchett a penny that went in a jar with the saying “Class of 2020, the year that nothing made cents.”

Congratulations to the graduates.