Class of 2020 first to graduate on Massie Field

By CHARITY SMITH

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Bessemer - The A.D. Johnston High School class of 2020 may have lost out on many traditional senior rites of passage, but on Friday not only did they have a graduation ceremony, with all the pomp and circumstance allowed by COVID times, but became the first graduating class to have its ceremony outside on Massie Field.

"We are the first class to graduate on Massie Field, this right now is history," said one of the class valedictorians, Eliza Stone, in her senior farewell address.

Dan Niemi, superintendent of the Bessemer Area School District, said performances by the band and choir had to be eliminated from the ceremony, but they wanted to give the seniors the best that they could have.

The seniors sat on the Massie Field track in front of the bandshell with many family members and friends in lawn chairs behind in the field. The bandshell had been given a fresh coat of paint for the event.

The students where recognized for their academic achievements. Twenty-one of 33 graduates had a 3.0 GPA or higher. Four of those students - Adam Mazurek, Tad Rowe, Eliza Stone and Vai Triggiano - graduated with a 4.0 GPA, earning them the title of valedictorian and the opportunity to address the class during the ceremony.

Diplomas were presented by school board president Jim Partanen on stage. As the students walked across the stage they picked up their diploma and a white carnation with blue edges, signifying the class colors. The students then sought out their parents in the audience and presented them with the flower after they all had received their diploma, as their senior song, "Blink," by Revive was played.

Niemi then gave them a final piece of advice, telling them to be "true to yourselves." The seniors marched to the center of the field at the 50-yard line and tossed their hats into the air and many hugs were shared.

Niemi said that when he worked for the Ironwood schools they had had a couple attempts at an outdoor ceremony, but they had problems with the weather. "I think if we moved everything to July every year we'd be OK, but I don't think the seniors will like that too much," he said. "We just didn't want to get rid of this class, so we just kept you around until July," Niemi joked.

Each of the valedictorians offered the class some sound advice and perspectives, that seemed to coincide with their class motto from Dr. Seuss, "Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."

"For this moment we are suspended from what lies behind and what lies ahead, between our adolescence and our adulthood. It is a place to look back at where we have been and look ahead to where we hope to be," said Mazurek in his senior speech. He told his classmates that he hoped they would have "moments worth memorializing and memories worth remembering."

"From here on out we can't live life counting on tomorrow, we have to make every moment count and make as many memories as we can," Triggiano told her class in her senior speech.

"Whether you enjoyed high school or quite frankly hated it, the whole class made lots of memories together." said Rowe. "These high school memories are a part of us that will never change. They will always be there. The experiences that we have shared shaped us into who we are both as a group and individually."

Honor grad

The class of 2020 is also the first class to start a new tradition of having an "honor grad." Vietnam Veteran Dale Tornberg was presented his diploma by Nick Heikkila who stood at attention and saluted as he presented the diploma to Torenburg.

Each year, Bessemer Schools will select a person who has served in the U.S. military and never received his or her diploma and award them one.

"His sacrifice was not overlooked and we would like to honor him and his service by presenting him with his long awaited diploma. Mr. Tornberg, we thank you for your service," Niemi said.

Two of the Bessemer graduates, Tad Rowe and Jacob Webber, were also recognized for their commitment to join the military after graduation. Rowe has signed up to join the Air Force following four years at Michigan Tech. Webber was unable to make the ceremony as he's already at basic training, but officials called out his name as well.

Rowe was glad to finally having a commencement ceremony.

"We were really happy to have a full graduation ceremony with all of our parents and family. It was great to have it outdoors, a new tradition starting here. It was good to be able to walk across the stage. It was just great all around," Rowe said.