Baccalaureate slated Sunday at football field

By Lynsi Musselman

The annual Baccalaureate service for the Albany High School Class of 2020 will be held at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. 

Baccalaureate will be held in conjunction with the Bible presentation hosted by First Baptist Church. 

Campbell Terry, youth minister at First Baptist Church, will be the keynote speaker. Terry will be introduced by valedictorian Addison Asher.

A total of 41 seniors are expected to participate in the service and subsequently receive their diplomas during the commencement ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 23.

Student council president Gregori Mikeska will lead the invocation at Sunday’s Baccalaureate service and salutatorian Jaleigh Morales will present the scripture reading for the evening. Student council treasurer Taylor Scott will lead the benediction.

At 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 17 prior to Baccalaureate and the Bible presentation, all seniors wearing cap and gowns need to meet in the west end zone of the field to pose for a class picture.

AISD superintendent Jonathan Scott has requested that immediate family only attend this cere-mony.

Scott said there will be designated areas set up for guests to sit in the home bleachers. No more than five per group will be allowed to sit together.

Seniors will be seated in the rock bleachers and will enter from the west end zone one by one.

“We appreciate the community support in going through this process with us, to give these kids the most normal experience possible,” Scott said.

Graduation Plans

Commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 23 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

Seniors will meet in west end zone prior to graduation.  

Graduation practice will be at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22 at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. 

Graduation Guidelines

Graduating seniors have been allowed 10 tickets each to distribute to family members who would like to attend the event.

Scott said guests who have received a ticket to attend graduation will sit in the home bleachers of the stadium. 

Staff members will be present to guide parking, entering and exiting the stands, and seating.

“At one time, we were concerned that we would not be able to have an in-person graduation,” Scott said. “Even though this year’s graduation comes with restrictions and limitations, we are pleased that we can offer the planned in-person ceremony for the seniors. They deserve this at the very least.”

Scott encourages attendees to visit the school website at www.albanyisd.net to read the Class of 2020 Graduation Plans and Guidelines that has been posted to help answer questions. 

Baccalaureate and the Bible presentation will be held together on Sunday, May 17, and graduation rehearsal will be Friday, May 22. Both events will be 8:00 p.m. at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

Ceremony Plans

The May 23 ceremony will begin with a procession onto the field of the 41 participating seniors. They will be seated on the football field in their cap and gowns, facing the home bleachers. 

Seniors should meet in the west end zone to enter the field for graduation. This will be the same procedure as Baccalaureate.

Singing of the National Anthem will be followed by an invocation by class president Tyler Beard.

Secondary principal Edward Morales will introduce the salutatorian and valedictorian, who will deliver their addresses, followed by recognition of other honor students.

Secondary counselor Jenny Scott will then announce the scholarship winners. 

Superintendent Jonathan Scott will confirm the diplomas, which will be given by Jenny Scott and Morales. 

Senior class cheerleaders and the mascot will lead the singing of the Alma Mater.

Honor Students

Addison Kristi Asher, daughter of Stephanie and Sonny Asher, has been named as valedictorian for the Class of 2020.

Jaleigh M’Lynn Morales is the salutatorian. She is the daughter of Melissa and Edward Morales.

Honor students for the class of 2020 are Aubrey Mary Moon, Alayna Jan Koemel, Ruby Grace Lemay, Taylor Elizabeth Scott, Maxwell Ruff Balliew, Tyler Allen Beard, Seth Liles Hale, and Alyssa Breeanne Zuniga.