A ceremony to remember
LMCS Class of 2020’s graduation unlike any other
By Marlee Madison | Manor Ink
Livingston Manor, NY – The Livingston Manor Central School graduating class of 2020 was unsure if they would get a proper ceremony due to the pandemic, let alone any graduation at all. Up until a few weeks ago, this seemed unlikely.
Seniors were instructed to set up an appointment a few weeks before the date of potential graduation in order to receive their yearbooks, senior T-shirts, as well as to record a short video of themselves giving a thumbs up or saying thank you to someone. These little videos would be used in place of a graduation ceremony in case one could not happen.
Not long after this happened, Gov. Cuomo confirmed that small graduation ceremonies were permitted, as long as they maintained social distancing rules and remained under 150 people.
DIPLOMA-READY Lindsey Parks and members of the LMCS Class of 2020 in a less formal moment during their graduation, a ceremony unlike any ever held by the school. Provided photo
So that was the plan: LMCS would have a small outdoor ceremony, with each graduating senior only allowed to have four guests with them. It would begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 27, on the front lawn of LMCS. The seniors had a rehearsal the previous Thursday so they could run through everything they were supposed to do.
However, this rehearsal turned out to be very different from what the ceremony would actually be. Saturday turned out to be rainy, meaning the outdoor event could not be done without all of the seniors, faculty members and attendees getting soaking wet. On Saturday morning, the seniors all received an email from principal Shirlee Davis, informing them that the ceremony was being moved inside, and would take place in the school’s new gym.
Once all of us seniors were aware of the change, we arrived at the school and met in the cafeteria. The graduation procession began at around 10:15 a.m. In order to avoid large congregations of people, each student’s family was assigned a different classroom where they were able to watch the ceremony in real time on the Smartboards. When it was time for their graduate to receive his or her diploma, that family was called down to the new gym, and they could take a photo of their student.
Throughout the ceremony, several speeches were given, including one by LMCS alum, Ryan Meade. He talked to us about living life to the fullest, and not taking any moments for granted. Both class Valedictorian, Jacob Pasquale, and Salutatorian, Lindsey Parks, gave speeches, discussing different memories we as a class had made over the years, and that time certainly does fly by.
Once the ceremony was over, the seniors all turned their tassels and promptly started spraying each other with Silly String.
Despite the fact that it was not a ceremony that the entire town could enjoy, it was really nice to be able to see my classmates and faculty members one last time. If you were not able to attend this year’s graduation ceremony, there is a filmed version on LMCS’ Facebook page at facebook.com/LMWildcats. Congratulations to all of my fellow classmates, and to every other graduating senior. This year was tough, but we did it!
LMCS PRIDE Senior Madison Strong poses with a graduation banner created for her by Livingston Manor graphic artist Carolyn Bivins. Bivins made similar banners for each of the 27 graduating members of the Class of 2020. Carolyn Bivins photos
Seniors given hang-ups of the best sort
By Carolyn Bivins | For Manor Ink
As the proud grandmother of a graduating member of the Class of 2020, I wanted to do something special for my grandson Jonathan. I designed a three-by-five foot outdoor banner and shipped it to him so he could hang it outside his home in Utica. It was such a hit with him that I designed one for all the seniors in my life, including a niece in Tri-Valley, a niece in Albany and a cousin in Connecticut.
I posted a flyer on Facebook and offered to make them for anyone else who wanted to congratulate their graduate. A comment from Susan Carlson offering to “sponsor” a senior started an avalanche of offers from other local community members. Because of their generosity, I was able to create 27 individual banners for every Livingston Manor senior, as well as a large banner prominently displayed at Headquarters Salon in the center of town.
POLE PORTRAITS Banners depicting members of the Class of 2020 fly along Main Street in Livingston Manor. They celebrate LMCS seniors who graduate this year under restrictions imposed by the coronavirus.
I would like to thank all those who contributed to the LMCS senior banners project: Jess and Chuck Amback (for volunteering her prime window space in the center of our town to display the group banner); Rhonda and Dan Bischert; Carolyn and Larry Bivins; Andrew Carlson; Rene Carlson; Susan and Gary Carlson; Cecilia Cumino; Julie Diescher; Naomi Durkin; Julie Edwards; Debra and Pete Feinberg; Diana and Guy Fredenburg; Denise and Bruce Fulton; Shirley and George Fulton; Michele and Chip Hemmer; Susan Lavelle; Amy & Gordon LeRoy; Lena Lundquist; the Livingston Manor SRP Union; Mari Martin; Anne Miller; Sandra Owen-Kelly; Brenda Parks; Laura Pasquale; Diane and Art Riegal; Barbara Roser; Jeanne and Doug Smith; Kathleen and Randy Smith; Jill and Dan Smith; Diane Sprague; Carmen and Rob Staudt; Dale Taggart; Jennifer Tolbert; and Jen Wood.
And, finally, a huge and heartfelt thank-you to Rhonda Bischert for coordinating all the student addresses and donations for this project.
To view a full photo album of individual senior banners, go to the Livingston Manor Seniors Album on my Facebook page at facebook.com/carolyn.bivins.
Congratulations to the LMCS Class of 2020.
Just a little about the Senior flags. I designed and printed them for the Class of 2020, working with the Class of 2020 Advisor Joyce Hoag and LMCS High School Principal Shirlee Davis.
Carolyn Bivins is a Livingston Manor resident and Manor Ink’s former Production Manger.