DOVER, Del.- It's not a backup in the carpool lane at Dover High School that had everyone beeping their horns Thursday afternoon. Instead, it was a procession of cars, filled with senior Dover High School students and their families.
Teachers and staff lined the sidewalks and parking lots, cheering and dancing as they passed by.
The senior drive through, replacing the traditional Senator Toast Day, usually held on May 1 for signing day. But with school closed due to COVID-19, school leadership had to get creative.
"This has been really difficult for us to figure out how can we best celebrate them and not make it about the coronavirus, because that's not what we want to commemorate, but their a special group of kids and so we wanted to make sure we were able to celebrate them and make it about them as best as possible even though it's heartbreaking that we can't have our normal traditions," explained Dr. Courtney Voshell, principal of Dover High School.
While it's not the traditional Senator Toast Day, the senior class says it is moments like this that have brought them joy during this time.
"Graduating has been a lot better than I thought it was going to be, I thought it was going to be sad. But I feel like it's been more exciting than it would have been because they are making it such a big deal for us," said Amanda Carey.
For some students, seeing those who supported them throughout high school means everything.
"They supported us through everything, even quarantine, because just like us students, they had to work through getting motivated to maintain grades and things like that. So I appreciate everything they've done - the fact that they support us to this day means a lot," explained Joshua August.
Along the drive through, students returned laptops and books in exchange for caps and gowns. It was bittersweet not just for the students, but the teachers as well.
"My first year teaching at Dover High School, this is the senior class. So I taught them back when they were freshman, which I think is cute because I teach ninth grade and she teaches the seniors. So every kid that I'm recognizing that I had in class I'm going like extra loud for them, calling out their name," said Gwendolyn Haar, a freshman English teacher at the school.
"There's been tears, there's been laughter today, so overall I think it's been a great moment for them," said Voshell as she watched cars drive through.
In a final tribute, at the end of the procession, students put locks on the fence to the football stadium. The locks, representing the lockdown of their senior year.
This is just the beginning of graduation festivities for Dover High seniors. One June 3, students will participate in a virtual graduation. Then, on June 4, students will accept their diploma at the Dover International Speedway, where they will get to take a victory lap to celebrate their graduation.