Unaka High School shows support for the class of 2020
Published 6:01 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2020
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
This lone sign hanging off the Unaka baseball field fence serves as a reminder of what the high school seniors were suppose to be celebrating on Saturday night.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The campus of Unaka High School was lit up on Saturday night at 8 pm as lights on all the athletic fields were turned on to honor Unaka students. On a night that should have been filled with tuxedo-clad senior boys and senior girls all decked out in prom dresses and high heels, students could only think about what could have been as school has been canceled for the rest of the current school year forcing cancellation of the prom as well.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Unaka's softball team honored their seniors, Beth Lowe and Lilie Kiser, by putting up banners and balloons along the fence at the softball field.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lights on all three athletic fields at Unaka High School were turned on at 8 pm Saturday to honor students and especially Unaka seniors who were supposed to be celebrating their 2020 Senior Prom that was canceled due to schools being closed throughout the state.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department had the lights flashing and sirens blaring as they led Unaka seniors in a mini parade around the school Saturday evening.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
The Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department sent five units to lead seniors who gathered at Unaka High School around the school in a mini parade.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Unaka High School is just one of the many schools across the state and nation that saw an unprecendented closure to their 2019-2020 school year due to COVID-19. Ths school administration and faculty is doing all the can to at least help their graduating seniors to have a few lasting memories of their senior year. Part of that was lighting up the school on Saturday night at 8 pm with a mini parade led by the Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department and a few volleys of fireworks from across the street.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
A sign just outside the baseball field lets Unaka Students know how much they are missed.
Unaka High School is showing support for their seniors in a variety of ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 18, seniors at the high school were supposed to have their prom. Due to the pandemic, this was unable to take place. To show support for their graduating class, faculty brainstormed what to do the day before prom was set to occur. On Saturday night, stadium lights were turned on and music was played. The Stoney Creek Volunteer Fire Department attended, and honked their horns as the hour-long event began at 8 p.m.
According to Lisa McGinnis, counselor at the school, parents and students were invited to come by. Many sat parked in cars along the road during the hour this event was held, to show support.
“It was a very humbling experience,” said McGinnis. “You know you think about all the stuff they’re missing, and it’s hard to imagine, but then Saturday night while me and Mrs. Oliver were walking around as the lights came on, it hit us. We were doing the ugly cry because of what memories they’re missing.”
In addition to honoring prom, the school’s Facebook page has taken to highlighting the school’s seniors. Those wishing to have their child recognized are asked to send a photo and a little bit about their child in a message to the page.
“It’s just something we wanted to do to highlight our seniors,” said McGinnis. “It’s a way to recognize seniors and let them know that we’re thinking about them. The whole Ranger community is behind them and cheering them on.”
In addition to Unaka’s senior spotlight, there is also a page called “Adopt a Senior.” This page features seniors from the Carter County and Elizabethton areas, homeschooled as well. This is aided by McGinnis and Dani Williams.
McGinnis said she and Williams got the idea after seeing another county doing this for their seniors.
“What a great idea to combine all of our schools and let all of our students know that our whole community supports them,” she said.
Students are given the hashtag adopted or available, so that if someone wants to choose this senior to send a card or other type of gift, they can do so. Pictures here are posted by guardians, and those wishing to send a gift can message parents and send things through them, or to Cloudland or Unaka High School.
McGinnis said this page is public, and people can do anything from adopting to simply congratulating a senior.
“It can be anything from leaving a comment saying you’re proud of them, or sending a message,” said McGinnis. “When they adopt a senior, it can be as little or big as the adopters want it to be. It’s just a way to once again show these seniors we’re proud of them.”
For more information on Unaka’s senior spotlight, you can go to Unaka High News Facebook page. To congratulate or adopt a senior, you can go to the Adopt a 2020 Senior, Carter County/Elizabethton City Schools group’s page.
“These seniors were born during the 9/11 era, and are going out with COVID-19, so they’re going out with a bang,” she said. “We know with that pattern, they’re going to do something big in this world.”
