Honk for a grad: Dayton Class of 2020 to line roadway in celebration

Dozens of Class of 2020 Dayton Public Schools graduates will line Edwin Moses Boulevard near Welcome Stadium from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday to celebrate their graduation and urge students to think about their futures.

The event was organized by students from multiple schools, not school district leadership. Class of 2020 Thurgood Marshall graduate Chaz Amos said the students will hold signs listing their career goals.

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“I came up with the idea about a month ago. At the time, we didn’t know for sure if we were having a solid graduation ceremony,” Amos said. “It’s a chance for the graduates to express their career dreams (and) an opportunity for people in the city of Dayton who don’t even know these graduates to drive by and honk and support.”

Each Dayton Public Schools high school will have a separate, limited “diploma parade” at Welcome Stadium next week. Graduates’ families will drive through a parade of teachers, then exit their vehicles one-by-one and walk down a pathway to receive their diploma.

Those events are at 5:30 p.m. June 1-5 (Stivers on Monday, Dunbar on Tuesday, Meadowdale on Wednesday, Ponitz on Thursday and Thurgood Marshall on Friday). Belmont’s parade will be at 2 p.m. Saturday June 6.

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Amos said with each graduate limited to one car for the diploma parade, Saturday’s event is a way for more people to see the graduates in their caps and gowns.

“I feel like wearing that cap and gown as many times as possible, especially when you’re doing something like this in it, helps make up for some of what we’ve lost,” Amos said.

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