With the end of the school year coming up, in-person Commencement is back on.
Every year the whole school gathers on the quad to celebrate the seniors graduating at Commencement. Due to Covid-19, this was unable to happen last year, but it is scheduled to return, with many restrictions.
Commencement is May 22, which caps of a week of events and activities for the seniors. The school year ends May 20; all underclassmen will depart campus except for the seniors.
For the ceremony, seniors are allowed to bring two guests who are family members.
David Koritkoski, Associate Dean of Students, addressed many common misconceptions surrounding Williston’s decision to host an in-person event amidst Covid restrictions.
“Everything we do for Commencement will be under the guidance from the state and local Board of Health,” he explained. “They have given us strict limits for guests, occupancy of the tent, and a host of other items that must be followed in order for us to have this event in Easthampton.”
Commencement is being livestreamed for underclassmen and families to watch.
Abby Schulkind, a senior from Amherst, Mass., is glad the school has something planned for the seniors.
“I felt happy when they said we’re doing something,” she said. “In my town at least, no one has been doing in-person classes all year, so I feel lucky to have anything.”
Poon Phentrakul, a four-year senior from Bangkok, is thankful as well to have in-person graduation. He spent the majority of the year studying remotely from Thailand.
“I’m glad we have an in-person graduation this year and I’m hoping to invite two of my friends from the class of 2020 to come watch my graduation,” he said. “It’s difficult for my parents to come due to the strict quarantine rules, and they are also afraid of Covid, but I’m glad I’m here.”
Poon misses the community aspect of graduation from previous years.
“I miss when the whole school gets together on graduation to celebrate the seniors graduating,” he mentioned. “It’s just one of those events that brings the whole campus together.”
A four-year senior from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Poojaa Prakash Babu is upset her parents can’t be here in person to watch her walk across the stage and receive her diploma. The only time her parents came to campus, Poojaa said, is when they brought her to international orientation for her freshman year.
“It’s obviously going to be sad that they can’t be here to watch me get my diploma,” she said. “I’ve decided to not think about it since it’s been a bad year for everyone overall, and I’m just thankful that I’m here in person to finish my senior year.”
Devon Morgan, a senior from Westfield, Mass., is excited to graduate in front of her parents, but upset her friends from different grades can’t attend.
“It’s actually exciting to physically get my diploma instead of getting it sent in the mail,” she said. “I’m sad none of my underclassmen friends will be in the crowd. I wanted a bigger crowd with the whole school, but I’m grateful we still have a graduation.”
Devon is concerned about the two guest rule, since her parents are divorced.
“I have a stepdad, so I don’t know if I have to have my divorced parents sit there for a few hours or if I can bring all three of my parents,” she said. “But it’s nice that we get any guests at all.”
Jules Constantinople, a three-year junior from East Haven, Conn., will miss celebrating the seniors.
“I’ve only been to one graduation my freshman year, but I miss the celebration and remembering the seniors,” she explained. “Having the different grades attend and come together showcased Williston, which was a very memorable experience.”
“I miss seeing the seniors graduate who have impacted me, and it’s exciting to see them go on to do bigger and better things,” Jules added.