Headliners

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FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

From April 17 through May 15, De Smet Jesuit turned on its stadium lights every Friday night for 20 minutes at 8 p.m. (20:20 in military time), joining schools across the nation that participated in Friday Night Lights tributes for the Class of 2020. Every Friday brought seniors and their families to campus to watch from their cars, and audiences numbering in the thousands viewed live feeds on Facebook and Twitter.

SENIOR PARADE

On May 18, faculty, staff, seniors, and parents gathered on campus for the first time since March 12 for a senior parade. With a soundtrack of music, car horns, and cheers from their teachers, students made their way from the Emerson entrance to the Ballas parking lot. They waved through sun roofs and windows, and many held signs expressing their gratitude for De Smet Jesuit.

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DEBBIE HIGGINS

GRADUATION

“We made it!” declared Principal Kevin Poelker ’98 on June 27 to begin the Class of 2020’s graduation ceremony at De Smet Jesuit — only the second outdoor graduation ceremony in school history. Seated in socially-distanced groups of three (graduates plus two family members) on the turf with faculty and staff looking on from seats along the track, the 158 members of the Class of 2020 finally had their turn to cross the stage and receive their De Smet Jesuit diplomas.

To comply with safety guidelines in place at the time, the ceremony included a mix of tradition and creativity. Graduates wore maroon caps, gowns — and masks. They heard remarks from valedictorian Alex Bentele ’20 and an address to graduates from best-selling author and motivational speaker John O’Leary ’95. Following a closing benediction from Fr. .James Burshek, S.J., they were commissioned to “go set the world on fire.” The big finish — streams of confetti and fireworks on the baseball field — surprised and delighted the crowd just moments before the rain began to fall.

Love

HEARD AT GRADUATION

GRADUATION SPEAKER JOHN O’LEARY ’95 “ Be grateful for what you’ve received over the past four years, bold in what you can accomplish in the next four, and faithful as you live your life forward.” “ Recognize that God still speaks, miracles still happen, and the best is yet to come.”

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Above: Graduation concluded with a surprise shower of confetti to send off the Class of 2020.

At left: Lavon Jones ’20 expresses his gratitude at the senior parade.

At left, bottom: Faculty and staff line the parade route to DEBBIE HIGGINS cheer for the Class of 2020. FR. JAMES BURSHEK, S.J. “ These are our beloved sons, in whom we are well pleased.” “ From the words of Paul to his disciples, his students, ‘I thank my God every time I think of you.’”

CLASS OF 2020 VALEDICTORIAN ALEX BENTELE

“... think of all the love that the people at De Smet bring to what they do. I challenge all of us to bring that love and energy to every situation that you are in . . . if you bring that love and care to all walks of your lives, I think our class can be infinitely successful, and I’ll be more than proud to call myself your brother.”

DEBBIE HIGGINS

KEVIN BERNS ’87

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Above, from top: The procession of graduates, (shown from left) Jack Griesman, Ben Harig, Bradley Hashbarger, and Joseph Heaney Graduates greet their parents to open the ceremony. Interim President Kevin Ruder ’93 presents a diploma to James Dodson.

Below: 2020 Men of the Year (front row, from left) Jack Burton, Jacob Alu, Sebastian Martin, John Fotouhi, Tyler Fahland and James Otto; (back row, from left) Alex Bentele, Seth Roggenkamp, Armon Wallace, Tim Chiapel, Anthoine Shell,and Roger Melton

DEBBIE HIGGINS At far left, from top: Caden Brown presents a yellow rose to his parents, Kelly and Christopher, as a symbol of gratitude. Shown in background, Luke Banker and Dino Basilico The view during Friday Night Lights in Spartan Country Nick Reilly ’20 at the senior parade

CARRIE BECHER