Hot Springs County High School Senior Class 2021
Donation protected
Please consider helping us safely celebrate our Senior Class of 2021!
The impact of Covid-19 on the Senior class of 2021
Meet forty-four senior students of Hot Springs County High School who just a few months ago were excitedly looking forward to the high point of their school careers, until Covid-19 emerged and changed everything. In normal times, most American high school seniors are heavily involved in a myriad of school activities that give them identity, structure, and formative experiences expanding their minds and hearts and shaping their futures. This year the student’s routines have changed as a result of mitigation efforts and their plans are threatened on a scale that has never before happened. Social interactions are restricted with peers, teachers, and other modeling adults, limiting exposure to a variety of experiences and perspectives that form an understanding of the world at large. Altered sports and club programs and disrupted competitions and performances are causing feelings of unfulfilled potential and lost last chances. Career shadowing opportunities and after school part time jobs are scarce due to the economic downturn and the squeeze on businesses. Milestone experiences including senior prom and walking across the stage at commencement ceremonies are at risk. These are just some of the many activities impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic significant to the development of these youth at this formative time in their lives. A time that they will never recover.
Hope
In spite of the losses, these students are hopeful. That they will graduate high school with enough experiences this year resulting in a successful college admission or job application. That colleges, universities, and businesses won’t be crippled next year when they enter that arena. That a cure or an effective treatment and/or a vaccine for Covid-19 will be found and our country will heal physically, economically, and emotionally from the tidal wave of events surrounding the pandemic. And that their lives will return to some semblance of safety.
Celebrating in safety
Nobody is spared by the impact of this pandemic. All of us deal with our own issues related to the restrictions on our lives. But, we do our parenting jobs and find ways to help our students have SAFE experiences in the midst of a global pandemic. We don’t know what May of 2021 will bring. We don’t know if there will be prom, senior trips, classic graduation ceremonies, or grand family gatherings to celebrate our student, or what any of that will even look like. But, we do know that we want our Seniors to feel like they are not the lost ones...that their futures are bright...that their senior year while chaotic was meaningful...and that they, especially this year, deserve to be celebrated. So we are moving forward with preparations and are raising funds to provide our 44 seniors with an event that will make then feel important, recognized, and celebrated, in a safe environment. At this point, we are planning a BBQ in the Hot Springs State Park with lots of food, graduation gifts and fun.
Why crowdfund?
Fund raising has its challenges in the best of times, but during Covid-19, it looks very different. Gone are the bingo nights, the spaghetti dinners, and folks milling around silent auction tables. We’ve been encouraged to move some of our fund raising efforts to a socially distanced online platform due to COVID-19. So, with this in mind, this GoFundMe page has been established specifically to raise funds for our Senior Class of 2021 and their graduation celebration. Our goal is to raise $300 per student with a total amount of $13,200. All of the money raised here will go directly to this endeavor. If Covid-19 prevents us from having this event, each graduate will receive their share in the form of gifts and/or money. If you feel moved to help us provide a safe celebration for our Seniors, please consider making a contribution to our fundraiser.
The impact of Covid-19 on the Senior class of 2021
Meet forty-four senior students of Hot Springs County High School who just a few months ago were excitedly looking forward to the high point of their school careers, until Covid-19 emerged and changed everything. In normal times, most American high school seniors are heavily involved in a myriad of school activities that give them identity, structure, and formative experiences expanding their minds and hearts and shaping their futures. This year the student’s routines have changed as a result of mitigation efforts and their plans are threatened on a scale that has never before happened. Social interactions are restricted with peers, teachers, and other modeling adults, limiting exposure to a variety of experiences and perspectives that form an understanding of the world at large. Altered sports and club programs and disrupted competitions and performances are causing feelings of unfulfilled potential and lost last chances. Career shadowing opportunities and after school part time jobs are scarce due to the economic downturn and the squeeze on businesses. Milestone experiences including senior prom and walking across the stage at commencement ceremonies are at risk. These are just some of the many activities impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic significant to the development of these youth at this formative time in their lives. A time that they will never recover.
Hope
In spite of the losses, these students are hopeful. That they will graduate high school with enough experiences this year resulting in a successful college admission or job application. That colleges, universities, and businesses won’t be crippled next year when they enter that arena. That a cure or an effective treatment and/or a vaccine for Covid-19 will be found and our country will heal physically, economically, and emotionally from the tidal wave of events surrounding the pandemic. And that their lives will return to some semblance of safety.
Celebrating in safety
Nobody is spared by the impact of this pandemic. All of us deal with our own issues related to the restrictions on our lives. But, we do our parenting jobs and find ways to help our students have SAFE experiences in the midst of a global pandemic. We don’t know what May of 2021 will bring. We don’t know if there will be prom, senior trips, classic graduation ceremonies, or grand family gatherings to celebrate our student, or what any of that will even look like. But, we do know that we want our Seniors to feel like they are not the lost ones...that their futures are bright...that their senior year while chaotic was meaningful...and that they, especially this year, deserve to be celebrated. So we are moving forward with preparations and are raising funds to provide our 44 seniors with an event that will make then feel important, recognized, and celebrated, in a safe environment. At this point, we are planning a BBQ in the Hot Springs State Park with lots of food, graduation gifts and fun.
Why crowdfund?
Fund raising has its challenges in the best of times, but during Covid-19, it looks very different. Gone are the bingo nights, the spaghetti dinners, and folks milling around silent auction tables. We’ve been encouraged to move some of our fund raising efforts to a socially distanced online platform due to COVID-19. So, with this in mind, this GoFundMe page has been established specifically to raise funds for our Senior Class of 2021 and their graduation celebration. Our goal is to raise $300 per student with a total amount of $13,200. All of the money raised here will go directly to this endeavor. If Covid-19 prevents us from having this event, each graduate will receive their share in the form of gifts and/or money. If you feel moved to help us provide a safe celebration for our Seniors, please consider making a contribution to our fundraiser.
Organizer
Rachel Miller
Organizer
Thermopolis, WY
