WASHINGTON TWP. — In a Washington Twp. cul-de-sac, a community got together to celebrate five different students, four graduating from college and 1 from high school
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It was a very personal ceremony, News Center 7's Monica Castro said, and unlike traditional ceremonies, the graduates got to give speeches.
Instead of walking across a stage, the graduates walked down a paved road -- something they could have never envisioned.
"I was honestly devastated. I was really in denial because I was really looking forward to the last month and a half with my friends and a chance to walk across the stage," Abby Clark, University of Cincinnati graduate said.
Clark is among four others who grew up together on Southbridge Lane in Washington Township that would have graduated this spring.
When ceremonies were cancelled, other plans were made.
"My mom organized this and it was definitely a surprise for all of us," Wesley Feldmeyer, Centerville High School graduate said.
"I said for this small street that's a lot of kids who don't get a graduation and we watched them grow up," Feldmeyer's mom Gretchen Feldmeyer said.
"I think this graduation shows what it means to live in Centerville, Ohio and to just be a part of the community," said Ohio State University graduate Andrea Tsatalis.
Each student was dressed in their graduation cap and gown.
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“I think all of us grads feel so celebrated and honored in a way we probably wouldn’t have gotten in a regular graduation ceremony so it’s been really fantastic,” Cecilia Holt, Ohio State graduate said.
Each graduate also gave a speech.
"We got that opportunitiy to speak and we got the opportunity to hug our parents and hear things from our parents. It made this ceremony and the original graduation ceremony so special," Feldmeyer said.
While the graduation ceremony may have been a little different somethings, like the turning of the tassel, remained the same.
"This was more exciting, more special than what we would have had just from our own universities. This was was so heartfelt and special. Gosh, I feel very blessed," Cameron Clark, Cedarville University graduate said.
After the tassels were turned, the parents toasted to them, with a message to other graduates to still be proud for all their accomplishments.
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