Graduation day seemed unattainable to many Simon Youth Academy students due to difficult circumstances they’ve faced throughout their lives. The global pandemic only made this milestone seem more out of reach. Despite all of the challenges, they persevered and completed their graduation requirements!
Knowing how significant earning their high school diploma was for their students, Simon Youth Academy teachers and administrators were determined to celebrate their graduates no matter what! Simon Youth Foundation’s graduation season continues across the country and our Academy leaders and teachers continue to celebrate SYF’s 2020 graduates and scholarship recipients through creative and meaningful virtual ceremonies, socially distanced parades and other creative, unique ways.
The curriculum at Simon Youth Academy at Circle Centre Mall (Indianapolis, IN) has a special focus on digital photography and media. Each year, students produce their own yearbook, and this year’s theme was ‘unmasked,’ focusing on highlighting the graduates behind the masks they wear to protect themselves from COVID-19. In celebration of graduation, the Academy brought their yearbook theme to life on social media by sharing the stories of the class of 2020 in a series of posts on their Twitter account (@SimonYouthAcad).
Simon Youth Academies in Orlando, FL, congratulated their Simon Youth Academy Scholarship recipients in a surprise and delight style! Teachers arrived at their students’ homes with posters, orange swag, scholarship checks, and other celebratory items to ensure each student felt celebrated for their accomplishment, even in the age of social distancing. Students were surprised to see their teachers in their yards!
Simon Youth Academy at BETA in Orlando focuses on empowering young mothers to earn their high school diplomas while raising their families. The Academy joined the SYF network this year, and we are so proud to be a part of this wonderful program and celebrate their first SYF class of graduates!
Since the beginning of the pandemic, staff members from Simon Youth Kelley Academy at Lincoln Park Center (Knoxville, TN) have leveraged their YouTube channel as a way to keep students engaged in an online learning environment. The Academy Principal and her staff have shared video messages with students to let them know they’re thinking of them, and have also incorporated lighthearted humor to share information and keep their spirits up in an uncertain time. Last week, they prepared a funny, creative virtual graduation practice video for their upcoming in-person ceremony. The video provided helpful tips for their students as they prepare for graduation. The not to be missed segment onwhat they should and shouldn’t wear to graduation and how to turn their tassels deserves an Oscar! Visit their YouTube channel to view the full video – it certainly gave us a good laugh! https://youtu.be/_y57FIeZ6qQ
Simon Youth Academy at Serra High School (San Juan Capistrano, CA) hosted a socially distant in-person ceremony in which students and their families arrived to an outdoor graduation stage, one family at a time, to receive their diplomas and pose for photos. Although they weren’t able to have a traditional ceremony with graduates and their families seated together, the Academy leader knew the importance and significance of students feeling the pride of physically crossing the graduation stage, so they made it happen!
Simon Youth Academy administrators and teachers remain committed to ensuring their students are able to celebrate their graduations and scholarship awards despite the circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We encourage you to view some of the Simon Youth Academy graduation and scholarship ceremonies at the links below, and follow SYF on social media for more photos and updates.
- Simon Youth Academy at Serra High School
- Simon Youth Academy at BETA
- Simon Youth Academy at Outlet Marketplace
- Simon Youth Rose Tree Media Academy
- Simon Youth Academy at Circle Centre Mall
- Simon Youth Academy at Sugarloaf Mills
- Simon Youth Kelley Academy at Lincoln Park Center
- San Juan Hills High School, home school for scholarship recipient from Simon Youth Academy at Mission Viejo
- Aliso Niguel High School, home school for scholarship recipient from Simon Youth Academy at Mission Viejo
You can continue to support SYF’s Class of 2020 and their incredible educators by making a donation in their honor: donate.syf.org/2020Graduate
