‘Push through adversity’: Horry County’s Class of 2020 reflects on COVID-19’s effects
High school graduation ceremonies across the country have looked different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and Horry County Schools celebrations were no exception.
With South Carolina schools closed since mid-March on the order of Gov. Henry McMaster, HCS Superintendent Rick Maxey initially announced that the Class of 2020 would be celebrated with virtual ceremonies.
But after immediate backlash from students and parents, the district changed course, holding several meetings to discuss options before eventually allowing each high school’s principal to decide.
In the end, most HCS seniors were able to attend a full class ceremony — albeit spaced apart from their peers — with about 1,550 students choosing the option when given the choice, according to Boone Myrick, the district’s chief officer of academics.
Still, an additional 886 HCS seniors received their diplomas during individual or small group ceremonies, and 459 chose not to participate at all, according to Myrick.
In light of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Sun News asked HCS high school principals to nominate seniors to record and send in graduation speeches to help celebrate the Class of 2020’s accomplishments.
Many of these students mentioned the unique circumstances, and how resilient their class has been.
“More than any other class, the class of 2020 understands how to push through adversity,” Socastee High graduate Jennifer Nguyen said, pointing to the numerous hurricanes and current pandemic.
Mallorie Brown, an Aynor High graduate, turned COVID into a positive acronym about her classmates: C for compassion, O for optimistic, V for vigilent, I for intentional and D for determined, while also joking that her class would always having bragging rights for the longest senior skip day.
“Had we known what was to come three months ago, we might’ve walked a little slower in the hallways or laughed a little more with our classmates,” North Myrtle Beach High graduate Jenna Berger said. “But we can’t turn back time. Instead we have to cherish all the memories we do have.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
