Their moment in the spotlight

Decatur seniors finally celebrate graduation

DECATUR — It was 12 years and two months in the making, but the 35 students who made up the Decatur High School Class of 2020 finally got their moment in the spotlight as a limited number of guests gathered in Peterson Gym July 11.

The senior class waited almost two months to take the long walk on Saturday. Because of this long delay, nine Decatur graduates were unable to attend the ceremony, leaving 26 of their classmates to mark the transition from childhood to adulthood during the event.

Because the covid-19 virus canceled the remainder of the 2019-20 school year, including all senior class activities, the graduation was postponed until late summer. However, after obtaining permission from the Arkansas Departments of Education and Health, Decatur was allowed to proceed with the July 11 event, with restrictions.

Each graduate was allowed to invite seven guests, two more than the original June 30 plan allowed. The seven guests had a section in the Peterson bleachers with their graduating senior’s name on it. After passing through a temperature checkpoint, the guests proceeded to their assigned seats and the graduation ceremony began.

Keeping the social distancing of 6 feet, the 26 seniors lined up by the gym’s concession stand ready for the march into history. Because of the virus protocol, Elgar’s celebrated graduation march “Pomp and Circumstances” was pre-recorded, and, for the first time in years, the Decatur High School band was omitted from the program.

As everybody in the gym rose in respect to the seniors, Maddie Alleman led the members of the Class of 2020 into the gym to take their seats in front of the new stage.

The pledge of allegiance was led this year by Francis Javier Perez, who delivered his salutatorian address after the welcome given by Superintendent Steven Watkins.

This graduation ceremony had two valedictorians, Paige Barrett and Abigail Tilley. Because the two were so close in the running for the top spot, it was decided to allow Barrett and Tilley to share the honor.

Because of the covid-19 protocol, the rose presentation was cut from the program. Because of a technical glitch, the slide presentation was also cut from the program, making for a much shorter graduation ceremony.

While Toby Conrad, high school principal, presented each member of the class to the assembly, Watkins presented the diplomas. Before taking the walk, each senior was allowed to remove his or her mask to cross the stage. The ceremony took only 10 minutes to complete.

As the ceremony came to a close, Watkins gave his final farewells to the graduates. He concluded the proceedings with the words the graduates waited 12 long years to hear.

“Fulfilling all requirements from the State of Arkansas and the Decatur School District, I pronounce you graduates,” Watkins stated. “Assembled guests, I present to you the Class of 2020 of Decatur High School.”

At that moment, the celebration began and hats flew into the air.

(Westside Eagle Observer/Mike Eckels) After the presentation of the diplomas, the Class of 2020 moves its tassels from left to right, indicating they are now graduates of Decatur High School.

Abigail Summer Tilley delivers the second of two valedictorian addresses. Because of the unusual end to the 2020 school year and the fact that Tilley and Barrett were running even for the classes’ top spot, the administration decided to have two valedictorians this year.

After receiving her diploma from school superintendent Steven Watkins (left), Paige Barrett exits stage left and heads back to her seat.

Maddie Alleman (right) leads classmates onto the basketball court.