Ohio schools light up stadiums tonight in honor of senior classes

High schools around Ohio, including several locally, are turning on their stadium lights for 20 minutes at 8:20 p.m. today in honor of their graduating senior class.

Using military time, 8:20 p.m. is 20:20, and current seniors are in the Class of 2020. Their senior years have been badly disrupted by an outbreak of coronavirus — schools closed the entire fourth quarter, sports seasons, prom and spring musicals canceled, and traditional graduation ceremonies highly in doubt.

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Tina Simpson, principal of Stebbins High School, tweeted that all of the Miami Valley League schools are participating. That league’s members are Tippecanoe, Troy, Piqua, Sidney, Greenville, Vandalia-Butler, Stebbins, Fairborn, Xenia and West Carrollton.

“Tonight at 8:20 p.m., all of the Miami Valley League stadiums including Edmundson Stadium, will have their lights on for 20 minutes in support for the Class of 2020,” Simpson wrote. “The stadium is not open to the public, this is simply a tribute to our seniors!”

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Kettering schools spokeswoman Kari Basson said the Greater Western Ohio Conference schools had been considering another night to light their stadiums, but Kettering will now light its football and soccer stadiums tonight.

Beavercreek High School’s athletic department asked all residents to get involved by turning on the porch light at their home at 8:20 p.m.

The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio High School Athletic Association have also tweeted out their support of the event.

Sunset in the Dayton area tonight will occur at 8:21 p.m.

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