Leechburg grad asks people to support high school seniors by 'adopting' them

Bailey Pallus’ fond memories of her senior week at Leechburg High School inspired her to do something special for this year’s seniors who won’t be able to make similar memories because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pallus, a 2016 Leechburg grad, created the Facebook page “Adopt a Leechburg High School 2020 Senior” in April to support this year’s seniors.

“I feel the impact of what this coronavirus is doing, but luckily I already had my high school graduation,” said Pallus, a Carlow University senior whose commencement has been postponed. “I couldn’t imagine not having that.”

Families are asked to share pictures and descriptions of their high school seniors on the Facebook page, and those who wish to adopt a particular senior must message the page and the person who made the original post for approval.

Those who adopt a senior are asked to send them positive encouragement in the form of letters, gift cards, cards, snacks, gifts, flowers, signs, balloons and other goodies.

As of Thursday, 28 of the 72 or 73 seniors had been adopted. The goal is for all of them to be adopted by June 4, the district’s scheduled graduation day.

Seniors can be adopted by more than one person.

One adoptee is Pallus’ younger brother, Andrew. He said he was disappointed by the situation at first, but has come to terms with it.

“I think that this is just a learning experience for all of us,” said Andrew Pallus, 18. “I think that this is something that we’re going to be able to tell our grandkids, our kids, everyone from the future on that we survived this and we were able to get past it together as a group.”

Pallus has been accepted to both Carlow University and Saint Vincent College, and is in the process of deciding where he will go. As for the Facebook page created by his older sister, he said, “She’s a loving sister.”

Superintendent Tiffany Nix said the Facebook page was created independently of the district. She thinks it’s a wonderful idea.

“I hope that all seniors get adopted,” Nix said.

The district is continuing to work on a graduation plan, she said.

“We are in the process of getting permission from the government to move forward,” Nix said. “Once that happens, we will release our plans.”