El Reno High School’s graduation, originally set for May 21, is officially postponed.

But those seniors who would have walked across the stage that evening are not giving up. Many stress the importance of commemorating their years of hard work.

And the El Reno School Board agrees with them.

Superintendent Craig McVay said postponing the ceremony was inevitable due to the COVID-19 situation.

McVay said in mid-March, the administration asked the students what they wanted to do. The class was offered several options. They could do a drive-by ceremony, which would involve students driving or being driven in cars either at the football field or Jenks Simmons Field House.

While in their cars, the students would accept their diplomas and pose for pictures. Other options included waiting out the pandemic or proceeding with a virtual ceremony.

Most of the students were on the same page, with 63 of them coming together through technology to discuss the issue and their final decision.

The students kept in contact. Adhering to social distancing guidelines, they communicated via Group Meet, a popular phone app. The students decided to send a letter to the administration.

While they all offered input, the letter was ultimately written by Malik Rochdi, president of the Student Council and member of the National Honor Society.

The document stated the students’ desire to go ahead with the traditional graduation ceremony - but only after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifts the quarantine.

Specifically, the letter asked that the ceremony be postponed until August, before the start of the new academic school year. Even if things get better before then, Rochdi said the students still don’t want to “jump the gun” too early.

If the quarantine is lifted this month or next, the graduation ceremony will still proceed in August to be extra safe against the spread of the disease.

The document presented a number of key points. One was the students wanted caps and gowns dispersed on July 13 outside of the STEM Center. Another stated that if any seniors weren’t able to attend, their names would still be called and they would be honored with pictures in their seats.

Rochdi said the group dismissed the idea of a virtual graduation. He said they all believed they deserved to accept their diplomas on stage in the presence of their teachers and loved ones.

“We deserve an original graduation. A virtual ceremony just wouldn’t be the same. We’ve worked hard the last four years. It’s all paid off, and now it’s time for us to walk on-stage, get our names called and get our diplomas.”

He said the students see it as an honor to hear their names called before shaking hands with teachers and accepting their diplomas and awards.

Even so, they understand that health and safety come first. While they all still wish for a ceremony in May, Rochdi recognizes the fact that these are uncertain times.

Anxiety is obvious for high school seniors, the pandemic adds to it. Many students are preparing for college and career choices - the challenges of transitioning into adulthood.

“The biggest thing for me and the other seniors is that we are stepping into the real world now. We have some big decisions to make, and this is one more big decision we have to make as a class to prepare us for adulthood.”

After the letter was sent toward the end of March, McVay and the administration agreed with the students’ desire to hold off on the ceremony until August.

McVay said that it was important that they let the Class of 2020 make the decision for themselves.

“We tried to leave it up to them,” said McVay. “It’s their graduation. We’ve all been through our own graduation. The students have been driving the discussion.”