Columbia Public School graduations continued Saturday at Mizzou Arena, students recall senior during pandemic

Columbia Public Schools held four hybrid group graduation ceremonies Saturday at Mizzou Arena, but with some COVID-19 restrictions in place. CPS followed all the protocols and guidelines the university has in place.

Hickman High School and Battle High School were the last of the Columbia Public Schools to hold their graduations at the Mizzou Arena.

Douglass High School and Rock Bridge High School held graduation ceremonies at Mizzou Arena on Friday.

Dates and times of in-person graduation ceremonies:

Friday, May 21, 2021

• 10 a.m. – Douglass High School at Mizzou Arena
• 5:30 p.m. – Rock Bridge High School Ceremony 1 (Hybrid Group 1) at Mizzou Arena
• 8:45 p.m. – Rock Bridge High School Ceremony 2 (Hybrid Group 2) at Mizzou Arena

Saturday, May 22, 2021

• 9 a.m. – Hickman High School Ceremony 1 (Hybrid Group 1) at Mizzou Arena
• 12:15 p.m. – Hickman High School Ceremony 2 (Hybrid Group 2) at Mizzou Arena
• 3:30 p.m. – Battle High School Ceremony 1 (Hybrid Group 1) at Mizzou Arena
• 6:45 p.m. – Battle High School Ceremony 2 (Hybrid Group 2) at Mizzou Arena

Graduates will have the opportunity to have their name called and walk across a designated space. Due to COVID-19, ceremonies will not feature a raised platform. Face coverings are required for anyone over 10 years old, and graduates and guest pods will be social distanced.

From school activities being canceled to remote learning, students told KMIZ they were discouraged by all of the uncertainty.

Mbuke Bunyecha a graduating senior said when the pandemic first started and things were so unpredictable she didn't know if she would make it through her senior year. She wants to thank her teachers and the staff at Battle High School for all their support.

"Going through this past year was really difficult, but that's what our class does we persevere through anything. If it wasn't for the Battle High School staff I wouldn't have made it through the year," Bunyecha said.

Bunyecha said a year later from the start of the Pandemic she is grateful they were able to graduate in person with her peers.

"Being able to see everyone and graduate and have a graduation is just really amazing," Bunyecha said.

Javariay Jacobs a graduating senior said he struggled to find motivation when stuck at home doing remote learning.

"It was kind've difficult the online, I became more lazy with online and I didn't feel like doing anything, but when we went back to physical school that made it a lot easier for me," Jacobs said.

Last year, CPS had delayed small group graduations due to the pandemic and each student could only have two tickets for guests. This year, since CPS is using Mizzou Arena, each graduate is allowed to have six guests and some schools will have two hybrid ceremonies.

Check back for more and watch ABC17 News after the game for a full report.