Polson High graduates grace downtown businesses

When the Polson parents found out they could not honor their graduating seniors with the traditional end-of-year celebration, they were not deterred. As with so many traditions during this strange year of pandemic, adaptation was called for.

Like other area towns, the Polson Senior Graduation Association chose instead to print a poster of each of the 105 seniors, says Tana Seeley, mom of graduate Gwen Sweeney.

Because the high school is not on a main travel route where many would see them, downtown businesses are showing their support by displaying the posters in their front windows. A portion of the “I Graduate Montana” grant the school received was available for printing costs, and Jodee Lemm of Flathead Signs and Graphics did the design work.

The association will also help decorate for the graduation ceremony, which will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 7 at the high school sports complex. Only four guests are allowed per graduate to maintain distancing requirements, but that does not mean the public has to miss out.

The ceremony will be broadcast on KQRK 99.7 radio and streamed on the Polson High School website. Polson residents should watch for the release of purple sky lanterns as each of the graduates is announced (compliments of Polson Rotary Club), beginning at about 1:30.

Festivities will conclude with a “car procession” through town, led by the Polson Fire Department. As the ceremony ends just after 2 p.m., students and families will head out down 2nd Street W, turn right on 8th Ave. W, turn left on Main St., and turn right on U.S. 93.

Valedictorian/salutatorian speeches, scholarship recognition, the Senior Celebratory Video, and an electronic version of the graduation program will be available to view on the PHS website starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 7.