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Graduation ceremonies began for the 76 members of the Goshen High School Class of 2020 on Thursday morning at the high school gymnasium and will continue today.

The Class of 2020 is graduating under the restrictions dictated by the coronavirus. Individual ceremonies are conducted for 10 graduating seniors with eight family members in attendance.

With all the “Pomp and Circumstance” associated with graduation, the Goshen Class of 2020 entered the ceremonies as high school seniors to leave as graduates.

Ken Britford, Goshen High School principal, said Eagles come in all shapes and sizes but you will recognize them chiefly by their attitudes.

“The GHS Class of 2020 is outstanding and we congratulate them on their many accomplishments and wish them all the best as they move into the next chapters of their lives,” Britford said.

There was a quiet stir in the gymnasium as Britford told the class members, “The hour of your graduation has come.”

He again congratulated them and challenged them, “as graduates to have a clear vision of what you can be beyond these walls.”

The graduates filed out of the building and then one family at a time.

For Gina Waller, a few tears were shed.

“John Paul was my caboose,” she said, with a smile.

“He is my sixth graduate here at Goshen. We understand the circumstances and the ceremony was nice and meaningful. But, it was hard for the kids not getting to say that last goodbye or getting that last hug.”

Waller said the GHS Class of 2020 is very close and it was very difficult for them not to be able to say those goodbyes.

“And, not to have the opportunity to honor and remember their classmate Michael Sanders, all together at their class graduation,” she said. “They really wanted to do that.”