Class of 2021 celebrates unique school year
Robbinsville – The Class of 2021 – which has missed out on prom and several other traditional milestones, due to COVID-19 – was treated to a Senior Sunrise Celebration on Wednesday, March 3.
The class heard from two motivational speakers before being treated to a pancake breakfast and the chance to capture the moment in a photo booth, among other festivities.
The event was organized for the class by Robbinsville High School social worker Katrina Nelms.
“We put it together with the fact that the seniors had lost so much this year,” Nelms said. “The idea was that this would be an event for them to come together, and get some motivation and encouragement from the speakers.”
The class was addressed by David Haney and instructor Crystal White.
Nelms said approximately half of the 88-member class attended the event. Some of the seniors donned their prom outfits to take photos. Members of the class also received gifts and opened letters they had written to their future selves in middle school.
Shey-Li Lewis said that she was glad that the class had the opportunity to socialize and celebrate some of the milestones. However, she expressed some sadness over not having some of the normal senior rites of passage.
“I’m glad that everyone’s putting together stuff for us to have a better senior year,” Lewis said.
Hailey Kays – who plans to study at Western Carolina University – shared similar sentiments.
“It’s been pretty eventful but very, very sad,” Kays said. “We’ve missed out on a lot and we haven’t gotten to do a lot.”
However, Kays said that she was glad for events like the Senior Sunrise and the the efforts to salvage the class’ senior experience as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
“I’m glad they are doing something for us,” Kays said. “This was very thoughtful. I know a bunch of people went out of their way, stayed overtime and came in early this morning to do it, and I’m very grateful that we have teachers and peers that were willing to do this.”
Senior Russell Hooper – who plans to attend Appalachian State University – said it had been a difficult year due to the coronavirus.
“I think we needed this,” Hooper said.
The class is scheduled to graduate at Big Oaks Stadium on Sunday, May 23.