Bellefontaine High School Principal Dr. Pam Noeth told Bellefontaine City Schools Board of Education members at their Monday evening meeting that planning for the Class of 2020 commencement this year has been a highly-detailed and creative process, involving working with a film company and also gathering the input of students and health professionals to ensure the ceremony is memorable but also safe during the pandemic.
Class of 2020 members will report to the high school Friday, May 15, during pre-scheduled time slots with up to six members of their family. They will be filmed individually on the BHS auditorium stage receiving their diplomas in the presence of their families.
A video compilation of the graduation, including filmed speakers and a potential virtual choir project, will be aired at 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, the school’s previously scheduled commencement date, for a Facebook Live watch party and also will be available via YouTube, Dr. Noeth said.
“After all of the activities that our students had taken away from them this year, we knew graduation was something that we had to get right,” she said. “Our kids wanted to be able to receive their diploma on stage, so we’re working with the film company that will record each student.
“We’re able to give them something unique and have added in some new elements this year. It will be a personalized graduation experience for each of them.”
The BHS principal said one of the special elements is that class members each have the chance to select a Bellefontaine City Schools staff member — past or present — who will read their names while they’re on stage.
“We have about 70 readers who are participating in the ceremony, something that we haven’t done before. The students got to pick some of their favorite teachers, secretaries, even substitute teachers to read their names And for some of the students, the reader is one of their grandparents who worked for the school district or another member of their family.”
Dr. Noeth showed board members a video that has been made available to seniors describing the virtual graduation process, including where to arrive at the school and the various stations that graduates and their families will move through during the filming day.
After receiving their diploma in the auditorium, the students and families will walk to the Distance Learning Center to receive a special gift and to check their senior mailboxes for personalized congratulatory notes from staff. Professional photos also will be taken of the graduates, alongside their families if they wish.
Upon exiting the building, the class members will get to ring the school’s “victory bell” outside of the Distance Learning Center in another new tradition that is being offered to the graduates.
For each person on the school grounds during filming day, including the graduates, will be asked to wear a mask. In addition, other safety precautions include all doors being left propped open to minimize contact and a thorough sanitizing of the building prior to the event.
Pending the completion of state and local requirements, the following students are set to graduate:
Gage Thomas Adkins , Aryn Alexis Taylor Angel, *Declan William Ashcraft, *Karlee Kay Augustus, Abigail Elaine Bailey, ~Dharma Brianne Baker, Dustin Thomas Barnes, Brandon Jesus Basilio, ^*Megan Jean Beaverson, *Brett Michael Belser, Sierra Nicole Bensman, Quinton John Bible, Hunter Dwayne Dale Blevins, Joplyn Jaymz Blosser, Whitney Kylene Boggs, Sabrina Kaylee Boone, *Marjorie Elaine Boy, *Ruth Louise Boy, Christopher Allen Bringe, David Brian Bruce, Morgan Elizabeth Brugler, *Brady Carl Burden, *Brianna Nichole Burkhammer, *Chelsea Leann Burkhammer , Dylan Anthony Cable, Maverick Wade Calton, Janela Maria Cardenas Curiel, Kyle Perry Carper, Dalton Steven Carter, *Lauren Jo Carter, Matthew Joseph Childs, Cheyenne Dakota Clarkson, Whitney Rose Clayton, Taizha Cheyenne Collier, Braden Avery Conkel, Kaitlyn Sue Conkle, Jordan Dean Conner, McKenzie Marie Conner, Hunter Austin Corbett, Benjamin Isaac Core, Gabriel Aaron Core, Jacob Andrew Costin, Jonathon Allen Coulter, Lauryn Mackenzie Craig, Mason Raine Crites, Aaryonna Savannah Raie Dick, Nathan Chandler Dickinson, Daniel Gene Dinovo, Nicholas Joe Dolan, Kelsea Ann Downing, Joseph Michael Eckhoff, Joshua Bryan Eckhoff , ^Angelica Valencia Edu, Eliza Jean Edu, Xavier Michael Farrington, Aleigh Cheyenne Fissel, ^Megan Noelle Flack, Gavin Bradley Fout, Christian Bradley Francis I, *Brandon Morgan Gamble, Dredain Ray George, Nicholas Gage Godwin, Alexxus Jordyn Gorham, Garrett Matthew Gross, David Matthew Hanley, Gabriel Allen Harris, *Aiden Reese Hartley, Christopher Charles Harvey, Brandon Antwan Hayes Jr., Nathaniel Allen Courtney Hecker, Derek Jacob Hennigan, Colin Aaron Henry, Preston David Henry, Shelbi Shyanne Henry, Donald Edward Hicks Jr., Teia Lynn Hicks, Ethan Cole Higgins, Danielle Eva Sue Holdren, Evinn Lynay Holycross, Samantha Paige Horne, Payton Elizabeth Houck, Simon Maxwell Hughes, Marlo Jeanne Hyden, Aaron Matthew Hysell Castle, Emily Elizabeth Inskeep, Blaize Riley Irwin, Madilyn Michelle Jackson, Sarah Kathryn Jacobs, Garrett Kenneth Harold Jenkins, Keondre Orlando Johnson, Sydney Rhiannon Johnson, Kylie Ann Keehn, Christian Douglas Keene, Taylor Ranee Keeran, Jacob Anthony Kidwell, Madison Charie Kiefer, Kayla Marie Kieffer, Logen Matthew Kissling Dennis, Michael Earick Krieger, Kinsey Elizabeth Krock, Maili Deianira Krumpe, Pascaline Lakaye, Misty Christine Largin, Lance Alexander Leatherman, Elijah Tearron Leeper, Evehonna LaTay Leeper, Slate Lawson Dean Lenhart, *Na Lin, Davion Marquise Long, *Amy Brooke Lonsway, *Jennifer Alondra Martinez, Siera Nicole Mathews, Wesley Chase Mathews, Alison Kayla McAleer, Brooke Osa McClellan, Jason Emanuel McCullough, Samantha Lynn McLaughlin, Connor Reede Mentzer, Anthony Robert Miele, Lily Christine Miele, Jason Alexander Miller, Enya Elayne Janay Mitchell, *Taryn Paige Mullins, Zachary Thomas Mullins, Desmond A’Monte Mundy, Nathaniel Alan Murphy, Keerstyn Blair Murray, Quintin DeAndre Myers, Meagan Leigh Neal, Brynn Haley Noffsinger, ^*Davis Christopher Norris, Kiana Rae Oppy, Victoria Betty Sue Parthemore, *Nisha Vaibhavkumar Patel, Jovan Pence, Chloe Alanna Nicole Peters, Nicholas Wesley Phelps, Deven Ta Vanh Phonchone, Ryan Charles Pool, Trystan Richard Lee Price, Avrionna Dana May Puckett, ^*Hannah Angela Rader, Richard Kaylor Ransbottom, Rollan Russell Ratleff, Zayne Allen Reed, Tyan Chandler Reese Baker, Gabriel, Maverick Richardson, Nicholas James Ricker, Alaina Rose Robb, Jay Robert Robinson, Alexandria Marie Rodriguez, Luke Ryan Roesser, Gage Logan Rollins, Matthew David Runkle, •*Benjamin Nathan Sailors, *Ian Michael Salyer, James Robert Allen Salyer, Tommy Lee Marion Salyer, Dixie Iris Samson, Nathaniel Lawrence Schmid, Chase Jacob Schmidt, Jacob Gabriel Scott, Corbin James Sexton, ^*Cheyenne Hope Shade, Gaige Anthony Sheeley, ◊^*Jacob Elden Shell, Trenton Dean Shelton, Melanie Ann Shisler, *Caitlyn Ann Shumaker, Skyler Jacob Slone, Brayden Reese Smith, *Grant Michael Smith, •Lacy Jane Smith, Morgan Tyler Smith, *Anthony David Snapp, Byron Owen Sopher, Tariq Fahim Sopher, Cade Michael Stachler, Jensen Elaine Stahler, Carter Duane Sterling, Elizabeth Marie Stevenson, Mason Storm Stevenson, Teaira Louise Stine, Derek Thomas Stonerock, *Jackson Russell Strzalka, Ryan Jacob Stuhlemmer, Riley Douglas Suman, Ethan Walker Swingley, Carson Macauly Thomas, Reese Peterson Thomas, Crissy Lynn Todd, ◊Dustin Gregory Van Buskirk, Luis Alejandro Vargas Quintero, Austin Allan Ray Varian, ~Rebecca Lyn Wampler, Makayla Patrice Warner , •Bryanna Kay Watts, Alex David Westerman, *Tanner Patrick Wical, Maggie Mae Wilcoxon, Riley Daniel Wilcoxon, *Karma Kristina Williams, Daja Monet Wilson, Madison Reese Wilt, Paul Wisecup, Samantha Ann Withers-Harmon, Desmond Jace Woods, Alanee Marie Yaeger, Mullaney Michele Yoder, Noah Matthew Yoesting, Laythyn Mathu Zachrich. *National Honor Society, •French Honor Society, ^Spanish Honor Society, ◊National Technical Honor Society, ~OHP Top 15 Seniors