Ironwood begins graduation ceremonies

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood - In the past, graduation in Ironwood has meant families filling the upper level of the John Krznarich Gymnasium and rows of graduates in robes waiting their turn to cross the stage and receive their diploma. This year was undeniably different.

The coronavirus pandemic forced the district to move the event to Luther L. Wright's elementary gym, where a handful of mask-wearing graduates would have their moment in the spotlight in increments over Monday and Tuesday in front of families that were adequately spaced apart to comply with social distancing practices.

The videos of each graduate will be edited together into a virtual ceremony featuring, "One steady stream of graduates," according to Ironwood Superintendent Travis Powell.

"You'll hear the accolades for each graduate. They walk across (the gym), they'll get the rose, they'll get their diploma. Then, at the end, we'll splice in the speeches according to the program," he said.

Powell, K-12 Principal Melissa Nigh, commencement speaker Ted Sim, and selected students are among those expected to have speeches included in the final ceremony.

Powell said there will also likely be pictures edited into the final product as well.

"I believe when this is all finished, it will be like everybody that observes graduation will have the best seat in the house. The idea is that you'll have a very good digital representation of every graduate, you'll be able to hear and see every speech clearly," Powell said. "That gives us the time, through the production process, to make a really high quality-product."

He said the district is planning to release the video July 17, the original graduation date had been moved after the pandemic forced the cancelation of in-person classes for the rest of the year in March.

The video will be on the district's website, according to Powell, along with various social media platforms.