Leechburg Area School District to hold graduation at Riverside Drive-In

Leechburg Area School District is giving its high school seniors the movie-star treatment this year.

The coronavirus pandemic shut down Pennsylvania’s public schools in March, forcing districts to offer education online and abandon traditional graduation plans.

Leechburg Area will honor its 73 graduates at Riverside Drive-In in Parks, which has been allowed to reopen as part of Gov. Tom Wolf’s phased plan to reopen Pennsylvania’s economy.

“I am beyond happy that we are able to do something for our seniors,” Superintendent Tiffany Nix said.

“They have worked so hard for this graduation and I was sad and frustrated when we were unsure of what the plans would be for the guidelines,” Nix added. “I hope that they are happy and this creates a fond and lasting memory for them.”

The June 4 ceremony will kick off around 8 p.m. with a parade through downtown Leechburg that will end at the drive-in. Graduates will be able to walk across a stage set up at the drive-in to receive their diplomas.

After the graduation ceremony, attendees will be treated to a movie featuring photos of each graduate and speeches from district officials and class representatives including the class president, salutatorian and valedictorian.

District officials said social distancing guidelines will be followed.

“Our goal is to honor our seniors in the best way possible while ensuring the health and safety of the Class of 2020 and their families,” district officials wrote on Facebook. “The Class of 2020 is special to us, and we want to do something special — just for them.”