News File Photo In this photo from June 2020, then-Alpena High School principal Tom Berriman addresses the graduating class of 2020 at Park Family Field at Wildcat Stadium.

ALPENA — After their senior year was interrupted by the coronavirus, Alpena High School’s Class of 2020 walked across the stage and received their diplomas Saturday at Park Family Field at Wildcat Stadium.

The 278 graduates were finally able to receive their diplomas, but the graduation ceremony looked a little different this year. Graduates attended one of three ceremonies, with about 89 students attending each ceremony.

Pomp and Circumstance played while the graduates marched into the stadium wearing masks, they sat six feet apart, and bumped elbows with Principal Tom Berriman instead of shaking hands. Four family members were allowed to accompany each graduate instead of the usual six, and they sat spaced out throughout the stadium bleachers.

Berriman said it was important to give students the opportunity to walk across the stage, and give their family members the opportunity to see them awarded their diplomas. Berriman said a lot of kids worked so hard to get to graduation and that it’s an important milestone.

“You can separate your life into chapters and high school graduation is really the end of that chapter of life – it’s really important to give them the bookend,” he said. “I think this year it’s even more important because this class had so many disappointments — missing out on prom, spring sports, and that last day of school — all those things they missed out on.”

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena High School Principal Tom Berriman on Saturday bumps elbows with a graduate in Park Family Field.

Graduate, and one of the class commencement speakers, Iven Brown said coronavirus interrupting the school year was crazy. Brown said all high school he dreamed of senior year when there would be prom, signing of yearbooks, senior lock in, and senior experience day, but none of that happened. He never got to say the final goodbyes with his classmates the way he wanted.

“It felt good to have the ceremony in person although I wish I could have had all my class together and glad each person got to have that moment that we had worked so hard for all these year,” he said. “It was like closure that we all needed to really move on.”

Graduating senior Connie Fluharty said schooling continued to be organized as she was part of Alpena Early College. On Sunday, her family attended as she walked in the ceremony with the rest of her class.

“It was nice,” she said of the ceremony. “I got to see people I hadn’t seen in a while, and it was a beautiful day out.”

Berriman said they had just finished the details for students to receive their diplomas as a drive-thru, when they heard rumblings the region was going to open up. Then Governor Gretchen Whitmer opened up the state further by allowing gatherings of 500 people in sporting venues.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena High School Counselor Mary Daoust helps a graduate with their diploma Saturday in Park Family Field.

Berriman said they were able to put the ceremony together in a week.

The graduates were able to attend an online commencement ceremony on May 31 through Zoom, because of social distancing requirements designed to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

During the online ceremony, students heard from student speakers Alexandria Bruning, Iven Brown, and Molly Dickinson, as well as salutatorian Ashwin Chhapamohan and valedictorian Emeline Hanna.

CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that Molly Dickinson spoke during Alpena High School’s online graduation ceremony, that Ashwin Chhapamohan is salutatorian, and Emeline Hanna is valedictorian. That information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena High School graduates and their families stand for the pledge of allegiance Saturday in Park Family Field.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena High School graduates turn their tassels after receiving their diplomas Saturday at Park Family Field.

News Photo by Crystal Nelson Alpena High School graduates on Saturday enter Park Family Field to formally walk across the stage and receive their diplomas.