When senior year at O’Fallon Township High School takes a COVID-19 pandemic detour

“In one word, I would definitely call it ‘strange,’” recent O’Fallon Township High School graduate Melanie Spinnie said of her senior year.

A global pandemic caused a detour to their senior year and put their plans on hold, but recent graduates of OTHS faced those challenges with aplomb. Of course, there are regrets and disappointments, but also a resiliency has emerged.

As they closed one chapter and look ahead to the future, several students agreed to talk about adjusting to life during a public health crisis. Some praised the school and the city for their efforts, others shared their feelings on missing rituals and traditions.

“The whole city of O’Fallon and the surrounding area has done an excellent job showing support for the seniors of 2020, and it has been much more than I ever expected, and for that, I am so grateful,” Spinnie said.

Ashleigh Farmer described senior year as “very eventful.” Farmer, who was selected 2019 Homecoming Queen and named the senior with “The Most School Spirit,” was also on the student council, a member of the Golden Girls dance troupe and vice president of the National Honor Society.

“Our lives have been crazy,” she said.

“It was really like it wasn’t real,” said Miley Brunner, a member of the OTHS girls softball and tennis teams. “But we didn’t let it get us down.”

Spinnie, Farmer and Brunner are among the OTHS Class of 2020, which included 581 seniors. After an abrupt halt to their regular school routine, remote learning commenced in mid-March. And then it was certain they would not return to the building.

Their May 30 graduation was a virtual ceremony: https://youtu.be/0nv3-GHrpk8

“Because it is virtually unprecedented, it was a learning process for everyone,” Spinnie said. “This year obviously didn’t go as planned. It was a very ‘play it by ear’ type of situation. As a senior, we lost some of the most memorable experiences of high school, including honors night, prom and graduation.”

The OTHS Guidance Department planned unique ways to celebrate the class during a public health crisis. They live-streamed a slideshow they created with submissions from the students on the morning of graduation. The virtual ceremony included video submissions of the traditional tassel turn and cap toss. Then, on the night of what should have been graduation, they hosted a glow event where they invited the students to come to the school and take pictures with the decorations they displayed outside.

“One of the best ways of celebrating that made everything special were the two different ‘Glowing for Grads’ nights, the first of which had countless cars driving around and honking their horns in support, and the second of which had a DJ and decorations for taking pictures,” Spinnie said.

“It was kind of sad because high school is over. But I am so proud of my class,” Farmer said.

Appreciating the OTHS staff’s efforts

Days leading up to graduation, teachers submitted video clips, some of which involved goofy dances and lip-syncing songs.

“It was so funny to see your teachers trying to be funny to make us feel better,” Farmer said. “I really missed seeing the teachers in person. We have really great teachers at OTHS.”

Brunner said she appreciated what the staff did for them.

“They tried to create things for us, to make us feel special,” she said.

And one unofficial ritual took place.

“I will also say that we kept the senior skip day tradition alive and took it to a whole new level,” Spinnie said.

Despite the changes, people came up with different ways to celebrate.

“My family and friends have gone above and beyond to make me feel loved during this dark and uncertain time,” Spinnie said.

Staying healthy, positive attitudes

Alena Ackerman said staying healthy was the priority.

“I have had so many of my friends and family sending me gifts and abundances of well wishes, and it makes me so happy. I wish that I could have celebrated with them in person, but given the circumstances, I would rather everyone stay home and stay safe and healthy,” Ackerman said.

Their attitudes impressed OTHS Director of Guidance Tiffany Lugge.

“They were so gracious, and they handled it so well. They overcame a lot. I think most of them did a really good job. I really have a lot of respect for this class,” she said.

Cale Holan, who was class vice president and on the student council, said he was involved in the planning. They wanted to involve students’ opinions as much as possible.

“Even with phones, social media, and modern technology, incorporating the thoughts and opinions of nearly 600 graduating seniors was certainly a challenge. As a student council, we held several Zoom calls with the guidance department, who spearheaded the effort, and had continuous email communication with administrators as well. We would give ideas, administrators would give back options, and we kind of worked in a back-and-forth manner,” Holan said.

Virtual graduation a huge hit

About 400 students participated in free photo opportunities — walking across the stage at the Panther Dome to receive their diplomas, with all social distancing rules and safety guidelines in place.

“This was the event that gave me the biggest and most overwhelming sense of finality because it represented the end of our high school career, despite being separated by distance,” Spinnie said.

“For me, it helped to signify the end of our senior year and the end of our high school careers at OTHS,” Ackerman said.

“I really appreciate what the high school has done to make sure that we got to have some of our traditional high school experiences. They had a banner flown over the town and lit up the side of the school for our prom night,” she said.

“The high school did a wonderful job making sure that its seniors were not forgotten. These events, when adjusted to be virtual, were able to reach so many people. I enjoyed getting all dressed up for prom and graduation, taking pictures and calling my friends,” Spinnie said.

‘Graduation is a big moment’

Hannah Bennion, who sang the national anthem at the virtual graduation ceremony, praised the school’s efforts.

“I was so impressed with how well OTHS thought of its graduates this year. The lights that were put up for celebrations, the flying banner, and the graduation video all made me feel very thought of and loved,” Bennion said.

Holan thought the graduation “felt a bit muted.”

“Graduation is a big moment, and I can appreciate that, but it doesn’t have the same feeling when A) you aren’t there in person to share with your friends and family, and B) you haven’t had the experiences you would expect before graduation. It should be a celebration of achievement and high school memories, but missing major events like prom, Mr. Irresistible, and my senior lacrosse season definitely lessened the impact,” he said.

Two other school athletes were crestfallen as well.

Burton praises OTHS staff

Rylee Burton said she and Brunner, her best friend since fifth grade, were looking forward to softball. Burton played for three years but was going to manage the team and not play her senior year because of some health reasons. However, she was excited about the Panthers’ athletic ability and how they were coming together as a team.

“They were very strong and well-bonded. It was going to be a good year,” she said.

Burton, who plans to attend Southeast Missouri State University and major in psychology, considered the mandated COVID-19 quarantine “a weird time,” but noted it was the same for everyone.

“Our school did try their best,” she said. “They were very good about that, and we’re likely the better for it. There is nothing we can do about it. And now, every day, we just have to stay positive. Maybe some time we can all reunite.”

Making the best of a difficult situation

Brunner said loss of athletics allowed her to spend more time with her family.

“That was a positive. We made the best of it,” she said.

Farmer said looking ahead at the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, was a good coping mechanism. And so was seeing an outpouring of help. She and her siblings have helped at food pantries.

“To see people really enjoying helping others makes my heart happy,” she said. “It’s pretty special.”

“I created the Instagram page, Just for Class @oths_seniors2020, as a way to show support for my classmates,” Ackerman said.

She said she saw what other seniors were doing at different schools, and no one had done it yet in O’Fallon. Spinnie joined her friend because it was a huge undertaking. They asked classmates to submit a photo and include their plans for after OTHS.

“At first, we chose to remain anonymous because it was not, and still is not, about us. It has always been a way to showcase the amazing students at our school and highlight their accomplishments and future plans.

Feeling the love

“It was beautiful to see the outpouring of love and congratulations they all shared with each other in the comments under the posts. I was so proud to have been behind something that brought us together, especially when we were physically separated because of the pandemic,” Ackerman said.

Spinnie agreed.

“It was such a fulfilling experience, having the chance to spotlight so many of our classmates for their achievements and their plans for the future. Whether it be college, entering the military, or joining the work force, all OTHS graduates should be proud of how far we have all come,” she said.

“It was — and still is — about reaching the hearts of our fellow seniors and their families, as well as the community as a whole. As a result of the Instagram account, Alena and I were witnesses to some of the kindest and most wonderful seniors showing that they care by leaving nice comments, congratulating each other and overall joining together as one, no matter who they are,” Spinnie said.

“I have never seen such unity among teenagers, and I am so proud to have been behind what turned out to be such a monumental experience, making us closer emotionally as a class than any physical distance could damage,” she said.

“It was so good. It was fun and supportive and showed people care,” Farmer said.

‘One of the strangest experiences of my life’

Spinnie plans to attend Murray State University and major in biology/pre-medical studies and will be a part of the Honors College. While at OTHS, she was a member of the National Honor Society, president of the French Club and chief editor of Endeavours, the school’s literary and artistic magazine, among other extra-curricular activities.

As a Running Start student, she earned two associate’s degrees from Southwestern Illinois College at the same time as her high school diploma. She was a peer mentor for first-year students and a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.

Ackerman will also attend Murray State University but will major in political science with a minor in Spanish. She was in National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Friends of Rachel Club and Blizzard (eighth grade orientation).

She also participated in the Running Start program, earning an associate’s degree and high school diploma simultaneously.

“So, to be even more disconnected from my classmates was really disheartening,” Ackerman said. “Going through a pandemic during my senior year was definitely one of the strangest experiences in my life.”

But, she noted: “I am forever honored to be an OTHS Panther!” she said.

Thankful to teachers, OTHS staffers

Holan is headed to Murray State University, too, on the Presidential Fellowship Scholarship, and a full-ride academic award. He said the school year’s end was a bittersweet time.

“Although I am certainly excited for my next chapter, I will miss my lacrosse and football seasons, as well as student council and a multitude of other clubs. I’ll look back on high school fondly, but I doubt I’ll ever really lose that little pang of regret over what everyone lost,” he said.

Brunner is headed to University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana to major in engineering.

“I am thankful to the teachers and staff who did a great job, giving us what we needed to get through the school year,” Brunner said.

“I respect all of them a lot. They really cared about us,” Burton said.

Farmer plans to attend Auburn University in Alabama and be on the pre-med track, as she is interested in dermatology. She was supposed to work as a nanny this summer, but that is up in the air.

Looking at the cup half full

On a senior year without traditions, Farmer said there is a bright side.

“Our graduation is documented. I can look back on it years later,” she said.

Brunner hopes they have an opportunity to say goodbye to each other.

“We didn’t have that. It would be nice to still be able to see each other. Maybe we can.”

Time — and government guidelines — will tell.

This story was originally published June 16, 2020 at 9:06 AM.