Unique graduation for Moses Lake High School Class of 2020

MOSES LAKE — In a lot of ways, there was no precedent for the Moses Lake High School graduation of 2020.

The traditional ceremony at Lions Field was canceled, one of the many canceled events under the restrictions imposed by the state to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. District officials found an alternative, one that tried to take social distancing and the restrictions on crowd size into account.

“Wrapping up the weird year in a weird way,” senior James Smith Jr. said.

His classmate Kaleb Kowallis had a slightly different take. “Finishing a unique year in a unique way,” he said.

“Definitely unique,” Gabriel Lucio said.

Seniors and their families gathered at Grant County Fairgrounds and staged a parade through town. Students picked up a diploma holder and posed for pictures at one of six sites around the community. The diplomas are being mailed to students later.

Alecia Haws admitted to mixed feelings.

“Having an actual parade instead of just having everyone at the field makes it more special because we’ve never had this before. But it also makes it more sad because we don’t get the graduation everyone else gets,” Haws said.

But some graduation traditions didn’t change. Alex Pruneda’s aunts and uncles, cousins and grandmother were waiting right outside Lions Field for their chance to cheer for their graduate.

“To say we’re proud is an understatement,” his aunt Eliza Castillo said. Alex is the first in the family to graduate from high school. “I want to cry, just thinking about it,” Castillo said.

Alex’s aunt and uncle are working in Mexico and drove all the way back to celebrate. It was a long trip with a new baby, said his uncle Tommy Guerra, but his family wouldn’t have missed it.

Only seniors and passengers in the car were allowed inside the graduation site, and only the graduate could get out of the car. But other family members assembled along the parade route, with signs, banners and balloons.

Traditionally, graduation is the chance for the class to get together one more time, and that tradition was appreciated. School was closed in March and eventually canceled for the year.

“It’s great to see everybody again. I’m just glad we get to be in one location with everybody together instead of something online,” Jayce Ulrey said.

“It’s good to get some fresh air, get outside and see everyone I haven’t seen in a while,” Lucio said.

“It really is nice to see everybody because I haven’t seen them in so long. It really brings back a lot of memories of elementary school and middle school,” Kaiya King said.

Seniors were grateful for the support from the community. “They’re blocking off the whole town, pretty much, for us, the main roads and stuff, which is kind of special to me,” Kowallis said.

“I think a lot more people are thinking about the seniors and everything now,” Haws said.

For more photos of the Moses Lake High School graduation, visit the photo gallery here.