Each school year, immediately following Spring Break, the faculty and staff that make up our graduation committee gather to set into motion plans for graduation at the end of May. Most of the “pomp and circumstance” are consistent from year to year: the diplomas, program, caps and gowns, photos, and location. Families and friends join us on campus for a joyous occasion to celebrate the scholarship and leadership of our seniors.
This year, following spring break, the COVID-19 virus upended what Crossroads and other schools could conceive of for the Class of 2020. More information emerged about the virus and guidelines from the City of St. Louis confirmed the need for social distancing. Crossroads made the difficult decision to host graduation virtually and found a number of ways to maintain school traditions and honor the Class of 2020.
Seniors’ Last Day of Classes
In honor of seniors’ last official day of classes, faculty and staff had the honor and joy of dropping off care packages and yard signs at students’ front doors. The care packages included the students’ cap and gown , yearbook, and pancake mix to be used the following day for a virtual Pancake Breakfast.
“Know that all of us at Crossroads care very much for you,” wrote Jason in a message to seniors that morning. “We believe in you, and we are grateful for the opportunity to know you. We look forward to all of the ways the world will be better because you’ve moved into it as young adults. You are impressive. You’re a wonder. And I have great expectations for all of you.”
Awards Night
The following week, faculty and staff created a recorded Zoom presentation for Awards’ Night, which included our traditional honors for seniors. Senior Awards went to the following students:
- Scholarship
- Catherine Birch
- Ernest McCarter
- Imagination
- Olivia Smith
- Responsibility
- Sophie Cohen
- Head of School’s Award
- Meg Corbett
Graduation Celebration
With our in-person graduation ceremony unfeasible, faculty and staff developed a plan to celebrate the Class of 2020 on May 17, Crossroads’ scheduled graduation day. Seniors and their families received a link to the graduation ceremony earlier that day, and we invite you to view it as well (password: 3K@4J?4A). Seniors and their families joined faculty and staff on campus later that day for a car parade to receive their diplomas. View a slideshow from the day and family photos here.
It was a joyful experience. As one of our teachers noted, “No one expected a graduation like this, but the care and consideration for kids was evident every step of the way.”
One senior shared their thoughts with faculty and staff later, “With all the teachers cheering and all the decked out cars, it really felt like a celebratory bang to end our time here at Crossroads.”
Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
Makenzie Dawn Akins Webster University
Sophia Homa Alai Gap Year
Nicholas Vytautas Babusis Purdue University
Daniel Devereaux Baumstark Lake Forest College
Mac Edward Beatrice Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Russell Hitchcock Bigham Case Western Reserve University
Catherine Christine Birch University of Dayton
Camden Moss Breckenridge Mount Holyoke College
Thomas Colfer Stewart Burke Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Jordan Michael Caradine University of Arkansas
Alia Chappell-Beattie Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Yingje (Quinn) Chen University of Florida
Kavion Marcell Chester Barry University
Sophie Flora Cohen University of Missouri, Columbia
Meg Sommer Corbett Boston College
Yihan Dong University of Toronto
Madison Camille Fuller University of Missouri, Columbia
Alexander Edward Godiner University of Tampa
Michael Anthony Green University of Arizona
Gavin Griffiths-Hill Webster University
Audrey Anna Hiotis University of Colorado, Boulder
Haojie (Walker) Hu New York University
Adam Christopher John University of Utah
Alyssa Mae Knoerle University of Missouri, St. Louis
Ernest Andrew McCarter Princeton University
McKinlee Brooke Morris Barnard College
Giovanni Antonio Panzeri Drury University
Grace Ann Rogers Hampton University
Olivia Elise Smith Middle Tennessee State University
Mystic Asaru Krsnanda
El-Stargod Southern University
Nya Marie Steward DePaul University
Katherine Renee Talley Gap Year
Miles Jackson Thomas Middle Tennessee State University
Zoe Marie Venable St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Ronald Walton Wagner Jr. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania
Weichu Wang Rochester Institute of Technology
Ashlyn Elise Wiley University of Houston
Valerie Williams Undecided
Yichen (Lily) Yang Syracuse University