In the United States, 39 states have closed down all schools for the time being, with more closures surely on the way. This, of course, puts major milestones like prom and graduation in jeopardy. Even now, experts and officials are projecting that schools may not reopen before the end of the academic year. For a high school or college senior, the news is nearly devastating.
Canada has been following suit: As COVID-19 cases grow in Saskatchewan, it was decided on Monday that they, too, would cease operations in schools.
As it happens, the women’s volleyball team from Briercrest College was traveling for an away game during the CCAA Women's Volleyball National Championships in Quebec City. It was while they were there that they heard the news about their college’s closure, which has no official end date as of now.
While the team (which included four Briercrest seniors) made their way home aboard a WestJet flight, the flight attendants took it upon themselves, after hearing the news, to throw an impromptu graduation ceremony shortly before landing. Ashley Erickson, Kirsty Kindrachuk, Rebecca Garner and Elicia Weibe processed down the plane’s aisle, collecting their makeshift diplomas and KitKats, as a treat.
The ceremony was complete with a hummed version of “Pomp and Circumstance,” but I think we can all agree that there was plenty of pomp and circumstance to go around at this graduation ceremony. Who else can say they (fake-) graduated college on an airplane?
Garner’s mother Nancy was able to capture the whole “ceremony,” and posted it to Facebook, where she was met with an outpouring of positivity and thankfulness.
“It warms my heart to see the compassion they have shown our girls. Thank you WestJet for showing kindness. This will be such an amazing memory for all of us!” the mom wrote.
Congrats to these grads, wherever they may walk!
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