Traditionally, the graduating seniors at Heritage Christian Academy have a day where they run through the halls and past students and teachers who cheer for them as they wind down their days at school and prepare for graduation.
On Friday, a new tradition may have been created by the Class of 2020.
The COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent social distancing regulations forced the school to shut down in mid-March. With it, the uncertainty of how the 31-member HCA Class of 2020 would be recognized and honored began to creep into the minds of the seniors.
Instead of running through the halls, the senior class donned their graduation caps and gowns and stood in front of the school as a parade of over 300 vehicles took an hour to drive past the seniors. Horns honked. Classmates cheered. Friends and family members waved. Even three Hopkinsville Fire Department trucks joined with with lights and sirens.
HCA senior Jordan Trumble was grateful for the show of community support to the Class of 2020.
Fellow senior Logan Gibson said Friday’s parade helped the seniors take their minds off what has been a tough senior year with a cutback in senior class activities.
Gibson added it was nice to get the seniors all in one place for the first time in five weeks, even if social media restrictions kept it from being a normal school function.
Cody Young was appreciative of the community’s support and thinks the drive-through parade could become a new tradition at HCA.
The date for a virtual graduation for the Heritage Christian Academy seniors will be announced at a later time. It’s also interesting to note that in a time of a worldwide pandemic, one-third of the HCA Class of 2020 plans to enter the medical field through their college studies.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE HCA DRIVE-THROUGH SENIOR PARADE