Like high schools nationwide, Mercer Island High School (MIHS) had to get creative once it became clear that due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) concerns, a traditional graduation ceremony wouldn’t be possible.

So on June 9, MIHS hosted a “diploma drive-thru” event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., followed by a virtual commencement ceremony live stream at 6:30 p.m.

On the graduation stage, students were given their diploma jackets (the real thing will be mailed later this month), cords and community-service pins. Awards for MIHS’s graduation program and student newspaper were shared at various stations.

Rules were strict. A graduate could only be accompanied by one vehicle (with exceptions given to students living in two separate households), and that vehicle could only contain immediate family members. No flowers or gifts could be exchanged at any point. And everyone, of course, had to wear a face covering.

The diploma drive-thru was broadcast on YouTube and Zoom, with narration provided by the student-run radio station 88.9 The Bridge. The evening ceremony, which can currently be watched in full on YouTube, recreated valued commencement-ceremony traditions, including speeches from Principal Vicki Puckett, the class valedictorians, senior class officers and others.

Both the drive-thru event and the subsequent virtual ceremony alluded to the protests that have been happening regionally and nationwide as a result of the police killing of George Floyd and other black Americans as well.

During interviews with the Reporter, seniors discussed their unprecedented experiences, highlighting what worked and what didn’t.

A booth was set up for students to pick up cords and community-service pins, as well as drop off books and uniforms. Photo by Joe Chen

A look at some of the event’s decorations. Photo by Joe Chen

“Expectations had to be put aside”

Lucy Cleator, who will be studying psychology at Santa Clara University in the fall, is an MIHS senate member. She was initially part of the graduation cap and cord committee, which, following the COVID-19 outbreak, was absorbed into the more generalized graduation-planning committee that also included parents and staff.

Cleator said that while the drive-thru graduation alternative wasn’t necessarily universally liked by students and families, she felt it was nevertheless one of the better options, given that the high school might have gone the completely-virtual route or not done anything at all.

“I think a lot of kids were really upset about the fact that we’re missing out on normal graduation, and we don’t get the same experiences, which I totally understand,” Cleator said. “But I think it’s important to remember that we are under different circumstances, and it’s obviously not really fair and it’s not going to be the same.”

This was echoed by class president Carter Burr. Burr, as a result of the coronavirus-caused school closures, was only able to help plan for graduation. The other big end-of-year class-president requirements — working on prom and the senior assembly — were nixed, since neither event could happen under pandemic-related guidelines.

“It’s better than nothing, due to the circumstances,” said Burr, who will be going to Vanderbilt University and studying engineering in the fall. “I do wish we did have a proper graduation, because that would have been nice and fun, getting to see everyone in the class one last time before we all go our separate ways.”

Cleator was scheduled to take part in the drive-thru event around 9 a.m. on account of her “C” last name. She woke up early to get ready, and coordinated with pals so that their cars could be by each other in line.

Burr, slotted for the same time as Cleator, said that his mom hung balloons out the window, and that his family went to lunch afterward. The Burrs listened in to The Bridge’s broadcast as they waited.

A parent taking pictures from their car. The event was designed so that students, families and school staff could properly adhere to social-distancing guidelines. Photo by Joe Chen

Cleator and Burr were surprised to find that in total, the actual walk — grabbing items from stations, receiving one’s diploma and then getting a photo taken — took only about 30 seconds. Cleator lamented that she couldn’t properly say goodbye to teachers, which was similarly brought up in other interviews.

“I got back in my car, and just went home. It was like, ‘Oh that was really quick,’” Cleator said. “I don’t know what they could have added to make it longer, but it was kind of a bummer. It’s like, I’ve worked four years and waited for this moment, and the total — driving through and everything — took like five minutes…It was just kind of weird.”

But she noted the positives: the gap between the drive-thru ceremony and the later online commencement, which she thought was great, allowed her time to celebrate with family. And the video work during the latter event — especially the senior slide show and a “favorite memories” video compilation — were particular high points.

“All my expectations around graduation probably go from the last 11 years,” senior Meghana Kakubal said. “Those expectations had to be put aside.”

Kakubal, who will be studying journalism at New York University in the fall, was one of the students manning The Bridge during drive-thru graduation.

Kakubal, who holds a leadership position with the station and worked with the school’s graduation planning committee, said that the idea to have The Bridge provide audio came about after the drive-thru graduation idea was proposed by admin.

“If people are going to be in their cars, there’s no reason not to use our station — which is so accessible — and make it something fun,” Kakubal explained.

Kakubal said that while her personal role during the broadcast was “very hectic” as a result of inescapable multitasking, the experience was ultimately “really special.”

Students Meghana Kakubal and Lila Shroff, who are part of MIHS’s student-run radio station The Bridge, provided narration during the event. Families could tune in from their cars. Photo by Joe Chen

“I’m grateful I got to broadcast, because I got to see all my classmates,” Kakubal said. “The interaction when you get to converse and take pictures of each other and smile or laugh, throwing caps in the air — that was lacking. But with the radio broadcast, with everyone listening to the same thing at the same time, it brought a sense of unity.”

Graduation committee member Ben Roe, who will be attending the University of Washington in the fall and is intending to study neuroscience, was in charge of filming and editing the pre-recorded speeches constituting the 6:30 online ceremony. He was enlisted by associate principal Jenny Foster for the task, he said, because they had worked together during a 2019 trip about which he had made a documentary.

The shooting and editing process was complicated, Roe said. He not only had to figure out how to get everyone filmed in time — he also had to keep in mind how to maintain good shots while keeping social-distancing measures intact.

Ultimately, though, Roe was happy how both the drive-thru and virtual-commencement ceremonies turned out.

“At the beginning, I guess I was kind of sad that we didn’t have a traditional graduation,” Roe said. “But the graduation committee worked really hard and tried to figure out a way that would make this event really unique and made sure that everyone could enjoy it. At the end of the day, I thought it was the best thing to do. I really enjoyed the whole graduation process.”

To watch the drive-thru graduation in full, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XMq-0-E7Po. To watch that evening’s virtual commencement ceremony, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqn9XnOZf-A.