It was a special evening Friday night for Taylorville High School graduates, as the administration and staff held their first-ever drive-thru graduation for the Class of 2020, due to the coronavirus outbreak.  The event was broadcast live on all of NEWSTALK WTIM's platforms on-air and on-line.

T-H-S principal Matt Hutchison told the graduates their class has gone thru a lot.

Taylorville School Superintendent Doctor Chris Dougherty told graduates she high hopes for each of them.

Taylorville School Board president Stephen Turner said 2020 T-H-S grads met the challenges of life.

Taylorville mayor Bruce Barry thanked the 2020 T-H-S grads for their community service.

Taylorville High School senior Kristina Allen gave the class address entitled "Our Struggles Are Part of Our Story."  She said that her class had to overcome more than just schoolwork.

Allen said her class thought they were thru dealing with problems, and then came the coronavirus outbreak.

Hutchison then recognized National Honor Society students, then the drive-thru graduation began.

Each graduate's car, with their family inside, pulled up one at a time to the staging area.  Hutchison announced their name while their diploma was handed by staff to Board president Stephen Turner. 

He put the diploma on a table, walked back, and the graduate then picked the diploma up, stopped for pictures, and left the stage and back to their family's vehicle.

After the one hour and 40-minute ceremony, school administration organized a Parade of Graduates thru Taylorville.

 The WTIM broadcast is available to listen anytime by clicking the "WTIM PODCAST" icon at taylorvilledailynews.com, then scrolling down to the T-H-S Graduation link.     

Here are some pictures of the preparation put into Friday's ceremony: