After months of uncertainty, Fayetteville-Manlius High School Class of 2020 members finally got to turn their tassels.
On July 25, Fayetteville-Manlius School District held its 67th annual graduation ceremony virtually and in person at the district’s outdoor athletic stadium. The event was originally scheduled to take place in June at the SRC Arena on the Onondaga Community College campus, but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Portions of the ceremony, including commencement speeches and musical performances were pre-recorded and are available for viewing on the district’s YouTube channel. Diplomas were distributed to students in person during a dozen small group sessions, which were held at the stadium throughout the day.
Traditionally, the senior with the highest grade point average is asked to speak during the ceremony. This year, that student was Katherine Yang.
During her speech, Yang encouraged her peers to reconsider how they perceive the passage of time.
“This whole year has jolted our assumptions in ways that will only deepen as we move through adulthood,” she said. “Think of each moment as a coin you can invest towards a better version of yourself—towards an incrementally more fulfilling life than the one you currently live.”
Other speakers included Superintendent Craig J. Tice, F-M High School Principal Ray Kilmer, Senior Class President Madeline Noel and F-M High School business teacher Christopher Gangloff, who the students selected to speak.
To view more images from F-M High School’s Class of 2020 commencement ceremony, please visit the district’s Facebook page.
