By FARIS ALLAHHAM

 

(Editor’s note: Faris Allahham, was the top BCHS graduate and winner of the English Departmental Award.)

It was in the fifth period when we found out. Everyone opened the email and saw the shocking news that school was canceled. And, although there was a designated time in which we would supposedly return to school, deep down, we knew our senior year was over. Our prom, senior trip, and Project Graduation would eventually be canceled.

Two months later, on the morning of May 20, we started to film our virtual graduation. The ceremony proceeded without an audience in the stands of the gym. Seniors crossed the stage, being watched by the lifeless, unblinking cameras, the school board, and some members of the senior families. However, there was an excitement in the air — the feeling of doing something no class at Boyle County High School had done before.

We still felt a little sadness for what we would miss. One of the main events that everyone was mourning the loss of was Project Graduation. Project Graduation is an event that has historically kept teen drivers safe on graduation night. It is a sleepless night of fantastic food, fun, and games. 

Graduates make fun, safe memories with their fellow classmates while parents rest easy knowing that their children are safe. At the end of the night, graduates who stay the entire time get a generous prize like dorm packages, televisions, microwaves, and mini refrigerators. 

The money for these prizes comes from the generous donations from local citizens and businesses. Unfortunately, the current pandemic prevented the event from occurring. 

However, after we walked across the stage at the filming of our virtual graduation, we still received our prizes. What a perfect ending to our unique graduation! More prizes had to be purchased this year than any other, and the community’s generosity helped to make that happen.

This school year may seem horrible to many, but after experiencing the kindness from teachers, the community, and the school administration, I can safely say that we have had a surprisingly good end to our high school journey. 

It is easy to see that the teachers really missed and cared about their students. Teachers, already burdened with having to teach online, frequently emailed and virtually met with students. Local businesses donated money, services, food,and products to Project Graduation, even during these financially harsh times. 

Teachers and community members also provided free ice cream, cupcakes, pizza and other fun items to the graduating class in support of them. Seeing the amount of support overwhelmed us. We all felt joyful seeing how our generous community supported the senior class when they lost the end of their senior year.

Susan Michael, the senior coordinator at Boyle County High School for the past 12 years, organized Project Graduation and industriously continued to work on it with the help of parent committee members to make it successful under the current circumstances. The committees quickly adjusted to the new plan and were able to give 192 seniors who crossed the stage an awesome prize.        

On behalf of the Class of 2020, their parents, and Boyle County High School, I would like to thank the following groups, businesses, and members of our community for making Project Graduation possible:

10th Planet, LLC

A Brighter Choice, LLC

Abound Federal Credit Union

Ace Hardware and Appliances

Advance Auto Parts

Allen Company, Inc.

American Greetings

American Legion Battlefield Post #A301

Arcorp, LLC

Auto Zone

Balfour

Bennie and Laura Peyton

Beto & Bogardus, PLLC

Bluegrass Barber Shop

Bluegrass Drugstore

Bluegrass South Livestock Market, LLC

Bob Allen Motor Mall

Boyle County Archery Boosters

Boyle County ASAP

Boyle County Board Of Education

Boyle County Clerk

Boyle County District Court Judge

Boyle County Farm Bureau Federation

Boyle County PVA

Boyle County Quarterback Club

Branscum Construction Co., Inc.

Bright Leaf Resort

Caldwell Stone Company

Calvary Baptist Church

Campbellsville University – Harrodsburg

Car Express Wash

Centenary Methodist Church Li’l Cherubs

Central Bank & Trust Company

Central KY Federal Savings Bank

Chase Bank

Cheddars

City Of Perryville

Clotfelter-Samokar Architects

Commonwealth Credit Union

Commonwealth Psychiatry PLLC

Community Arts Center, Inc.

Community Trust Bank

Corning, Inc.

Cracker Barrel

Custom Air, Inc.

Dairy Queen

Danielle’s Drive Away Café

Danville Bike and Footwear

Danville Boyle Co. Parks & Rec.

Danville Church of God

Danville Dermatology

Danville Family Dentistry

Danville Office Equipment Co

Danville Pediatrics

Danville Surgical Associates

Dexter Real Estate & Insurance

Diesel Tech

Ephraim McDowell Human Resources

Family Medicine Clinic

Farmers Warehouse Company

Fazolis

Feistritzer Electric Heating & AC

Ferm Solutions

Floyd’s Cycles

Gentle Dental Care

Harley’s Family Tire

Harrodsburg Community Church

Health First Chiropractic

Heart of Kentucky United Way

Huddle House, Inc.

Indian Hills Christian Church

Inter-County Energy Coop Corp

Jacob & Allison Tamme

Joedy Sharpe Construction Co., Inc.

Junction City First Baptist Church

Ken Towery’s Tire & Auto Care

Kerbaugh, Rodes & Butler, PLLC

Kiesler Tool & Machine

Kirk Schlea Photography

Lafayette Engineering, Inc.

Lee’s Famous Recipe

Lee’s Upholstery

Lexington Ave Baptist Church

Lexington Ice Center

Lexington Legends Pro Baseball Club

Liz Welch

Lowes Home Centers, Inc. (Danville)

Lowes Home Centers, Inc. (S. Lexington)

Lowes Home Centers, Inc. (Nicholasville)

Maple Tree Gallery, Inc.

Marjorie & Hugh Hines

Mark Brown Auto Body

McDowell Place of Danville

McDowell Wellness Center

McGlone Construction Co., Inc.

Michael & Tracy Perkins

Nash, Cleveland & Godfrey

NESCO

Norton Center for the Arts

O’Reilly Auto Parts

Parksville Christian Church

Patrick Cooper Painting

Perryville Baptist Church

Perryville Furniture Outlet

Perryville United Methodist Church

Power and Panel Concepts, Inc.

Presbyterian Church of Danville

Preston Pruitt Spurlin Funeral Home

Pruitt Farms

Raptors Motorcycle Club

Robinson, Hughes & Christopher, P.S.C.

Ruth & Shearer, CPAs, LLC

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church

Sandy Surprises

Scott Scutchfield, MD

Sheehan, Barnett, Dean, Pennington,   Dexter & Tucker. P.S.C.

Shell Oil (Ready Mart)

Snowie of Danville

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Starbucks

Stephen W. Buchanan, DMD

Stuart Powell Ford, Inc.

Sweets By Cindy

Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment

The Hub Coffee House & Café

Timberland

Travel Leaders/Thomas Travel

Trim Masters Charitable Foundation, Inc.

United Structural Systems

USA Signs, LLC

Valvoline Instant Oil Change

Walden Funeral Home, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Ward Vision Center

Whitaker Bank

Wilderness Trace Veterinary Clinic

Women’s Care of the Commonwealth

Xtreme Style Signs

Zaxby’s