Celebrating Clarksville seniors: Commencement plans announced

    The Clarksville Class of 2020 can look forward to a commencement parade planned for Sunday, May 17. The parade will begin at 1:30 p.m., led by a school bus, and travel south on Mather to Oakland St., north on Main Street to Eichar Ave., and then will go down Washington, Hilton, Ely, Traer and part of Baughmann St. before taking C33 east and ending at London St.

    A commencement ceremony is planned for Sunday, June 14 in the school gym, with the football field as a backup option if social distancing policies do not permit use of the gym.

    Prom is set for June 27, with details yet to be determined. Senior Awards and recognition will be posted on Facebook.

    With school canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, life has been far from normal for the Class of 2020, who have missed out on spring sports and had to postpone their most anticipated senior-year events.

    But a group of senior moms, with help from the community, are working to make sure seniors know they are loved, supported, and not forgotten. Drive around Clarksville, and you’ll see yard signs supporting the Class of 2020, and banners will soon be up on Main Street to celebrate seniors. The community can join in by adopting a Clarksville High School senior by sending anything from a letter or card to a gift basket.

    Senior mom Christa Lampe noticed the “Adopt a Senior” idea in a Cedar Valley area Facebook group, and decided to bring the idea to Clarksville with the
“Adopt a Clarksville High School Senior” Facebook group. Close to two-thirds of the 25-member senior class is participating.

    And the community response so far has been excellent.

    “Every one of the seniors in the group has been adopted by multiple people…” Lampe said. “We wanted as many people as possible to show support and love for these kids. Their senior year has been not so normal, and we want to show them we care about them, and are proud of their accomplishments.”

    Caring letters of support, cards, baked goods, care packages for kids who will be starting college in the fall and gas gift cards for students entering the workforce are just some of the thoughtful gifts seniors have received.

    “The response has been excellent. I’m proud of everyone out there making these kids feel special,” Lampe said.

    Biographies of the students have been posted on the Adopt a Clarksville High School Senior Facebook page. If you’ve decided to adopt a senior, contact them and post on the Facebook page, or if you don’t have internet, you can call Christa Lampe at 319-269-8478 for more information on how you can participate.

    The Adopt a Senior effort will continue throughout the summer, for Clarksville residents who want to show seniors love and support.

   “These kids are such a great group. Everyone is doing different things. Some are going into the workforce. Some are not sure. Some are going to college…” Lampe said. “We just want to show extra support to the kids. They have had such a rough go this year with all the changes of quarantine and everything. We want them to feel that Clarksville love."