WESTHAMPTON — A graduate approaches a stage as “Pomp and Circumstance” plays. Their name is called. They take their diploma. They are cheered.
This graduation ritual is familiar to people across the United States. Except at Hampshire Regional High School last week, the ritual was conducted in a largely empty auditorium, one student at a time, in 10-minute intervals, over a period of four days.
The high school’s extended approach to celebrating graduates was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted Hampshire Regional to stop holding in-person classes beginning in March.
In total, 116 of the 119 students in the graduating class took part in the ceremony.
“Because we have a couple kids leaving for the military, we wanted to do something now,” said high school Principal Kristen Smidy. “Given all the restrictions, this is what made the most sense.”
The students’ 10-minute appointments for graduation started last week on Tuesday and continued into Friday of last week. Family members of each graduate were allowed inside to watch and applaud, and students walked across the stage in traditional caps and gowns. While the students walking didn’t wear masks while traversing the stage, the school officials on the stage did.
“It’s been long days but it’s totally worth it,” Smidy said Thursday.
One of the students who walked Thursday was Kayleigh Murdock.
“I think that they’ve done such a great job handling this,” she said.
Murdock helped her mother, Amy Neumann, sew matching masks for all the graduates. Neumann said she got the idea to provide the masks when it was announced that they would be required for students taking part in the commencement exercises, and she pictured some students walking with T-shirts over their faces.
“I know that not all families have everything,” Neumann said.
In the end, masks weren’t required for students walking in the ceremony, although they were still provided by Neumann and Murdock nonetheless.
A video compiling the walks of all of the participants in the graduation ceremony will have its premiere Friday. It will be provided to families who preordered it as part of Friday’s drive-through processional at the school, and will be broadcast on public access television in Southampton for the first time at 7 p.m. on Channel 191. It will also be posted online on Youtube and FaceBook Live, also at 7 p.m., and will be accessible through the school’s website.
“There was strong value in the individual celebration, but also the group celebration,” Smidy said of the video.
A number of students interviewed said they hadn’t expected any kind of in-person graduation.
“I was kind of hoping for something like this,” Alex Pallante said.
Pallante FaceTimed his grandmother in Wisconsin after he walked, who he said would have been at his graduation if it weren’t for the pandemic.
Monica Neveu and her wife, Marianne Neveu, were among those cheering on Adrien Neveu, their son, as he got his diploma.
“I didn’t expect it to feel very meaningful,” Monica said. “I think we were both brought to tears anyway.”
Graduation photographs were provided to students free of charge, and photographer Rich Bravman was the man who took them.
“The school’s done an amazing job,” he said. “They’ve really gone above and beyond here.”
Despite the ceremony’s differences from a normal commencement, Bravman said, it still looked to be meaningful for the participants.
“I’m still seeing parents shed a tear, I’m still seeing the student very happy,” he said.
Even though the ceremony wasn’t what he expected it would be at the beginning of the year, graduate Kyle Montague did express appreciation for it.
“Considering all that’s going on, it’s good to have something,” he said shortly after taking part in the ceremony. “It’s better than having nothing.”
Erin Daley, Montague’s mom, described the experience as surreal.
“To have an empty gymnasium with a smaller ceremony is challenging,” she said.
The school is planning an in-person achievement celebration for all of the graduates on Aug. 8.
“I think it’s going to be a go,” Smidy said.
Graduate Ruby Phelps said that she plans on attending the celebration.
“If it’s not canceled,” she said.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.