2020 DSHS Graduation: One for the Ages

This coming Friday, June 19th at 8:30 p.m., my grandson -- a member of the Class of 2020 -- will graduate from Dripping Springs High School.

Thanks to COVID-19, graduation ceremonies were moved from May 29th, but everyone who has spent time, finding the safest way to hold a face-to-face event rather than a virtual one, has earned our high praise for their efforts.

Of course, I am extremely proud of my grandson and his accomplishments, but I am equally thankful for the outstanding men and women who taught him, cared that he succeeded and guided him through his education. He now has the tools to succeed at the next level.

I cannot say enough about the quality of the DSHS faculty, the challenging learning opportunities they provided, their obvious dedication to teaching and the role they played in shaping this young man’s academic foundation.

Walt was in the Tiger Marching Band for four years and through that experience learned leadership and teamwork thanks to Mr. Woods and his great team.

Grateful thanks, go to the youth leaders at his church, his mentors at the American Legion and VFW, friends and neighbors who have supported Walt as he made his way through his middle and high school years.

Friday night, as the band plays “Pomp & Circumstance” while the 400 plus members of the Class of 2020 march into the stadium, I am certain a flood of memories and emotions will sweep through moms, dads and family members as they witness their son or daughter walking across the symbolic stage and, in doing so, into the next chapter of their lives.

So, as we see these young men and women, many who have grown up in Drip, receiving their high school diplomas, sweet memories will be waiting for us all: perhaps it’s the excitement of making the dance team, getting their driver’s license, winning first chair in the band, their first date, passing that impossible exam, bringing back championships from various competitions or winning academic awards. Dripping Springs Tigers have made us all proud, whether we knew them or not.

You probably realize, as his grandmother, Walt and I go back a long way -- to his first day of life, so I also will be thinking about the little boy who once tromped around in black fishing boots and carried a pirate’s sword after watching “Peter Pan,” or taking him to his first Broadway production (also “Peter Pan”) or singing songs from “Polar Express.”

But, in spite of the administration’s hard work to make everyone safe from the pandemic, this year’s graduation will be different. Only four family members of each graduate will be socially distanced in the stadium seating. I presume most of the families will be wearing masks.

The graduates will be seated six feet apart. They will pick up their diplomas and they won’t be shaking hands with school officials. It’s also possible most grads will be masked and some will be gloved.

However, not in the history of DSHS has graduation ever looked like this… and for most Drippin’ residents, it will be forgotten. For me,however, it’ll be one more delicious memory I’ll never forget!

You’ve been a great Tiger, Walt! Now, Gig ‘em, Aggies!