New Orleans —InspireNOLA seniors from Edna Karr High School, Eleanor McMain Secondary School, and McDonogh 35 Senior High School participated in a special Senior Salute Car Parade this week in their honor.
The Class of 2020 began their school career faced with Hurricane Katrina and ended it amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Their pathway to graduation has been unlike any other class before them.
“Our seniors’ school careers were bookended by two major events. It was important that we didn’t let circumstances diminish their accomplishments,” said Jamar McKneely, InspireNOLA CEO. “They deserve to be honored and celebrated for incredible work they have done and the obstacles they have overcome to reach their graduation day.”
While InspireNOLA is still planning to have a traditional graduation ceremony for each school, they wanted to make sure students ended this unprecedented school year on a celebratory note.
To honor their endurance and success during what would have been their graduation week, InspireNOLA held a Senior Salute car parade and celebration for each of its graduating classes on Tuesday, May 19 at their respective schools.
A parade of cars decorated with balloons, signs, and crepe paper in school colors slowly rolled past the schools as students dressed in their caps and gowns were cheered on by school staff members. Each student received a composite picture of their class as a special senior gift during the event.
Drivers passing by the parade honked their horns in honor of the students, and people on the street joined in the celebration by waving and cheering as the seniors drove by.
“Thank you, seniors, for allowing us to educate and to serve you,” McDonogh 35 Principal Lee Green said in a message for the graduates. “You are the best and the brightest, and you will take it to the next level.”
McMain Principal John Green told seniors that he has no doubt that they will continue to excel beyond high school.
“Keep on pushing yourself and settling for nothing less than excellence, and I promise you this much, you will be great,” he said.
“We look forward to seeing where your lives take you and the legacy you create,” added Karr Principal Chauncey Nash. “Once again, congratulations seniors! Now go change the world!” View a highlight video of the InspireNOLA Senior Salute parades on the InspireNOLA Facebook page. Visit us online at www.inspirenolacharterschools.org.