{"id":2458766,"date":"2020-05-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-23T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=326236"},"modified":"2020-05-23T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-23T06:00:00","slug":"like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/photos\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/","title":{"rendered":"Like Aspen, Basalt High School to hold drive-in graduation ceremony on May 30"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.7300995024876\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-326236-735\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled gallery-container\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Students celebrate with the traditional cap toss to close out the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the BHS football field. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"0.48132780082988\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11.551867219917\">\n<p><strong>Students celebrate with the traditional cap toss to close out the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the BHS football field. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1024x683.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1.jpg\"> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1024x683.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Students celebrate with the traditional cap toss to close out the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the BHS football field. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1-768x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Principal Peter Mueller gives introductions during the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the BHS football field. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"0.4804347826087\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11.530434782609\">\n<p><strong>Principal Peter Mueller gives introductions during the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the BHS football field. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1-768x1024.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1.jpg\"> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-1-768x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Principal Peter Mueller gives introductions during the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the BHS football field. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Aspen High School graduating senior Connor Chesner, left, reaches up to catch his cap and gown from Jolaine Pfeifer as senior Aidan Ledingham, center right, waits in line while teacher Sarah Benson removes the form taped to the car window at the Aspen School District Campus on Friday, May 22, 2020. Aspen\u2019s seniors drove their cars between the high school and elementary school to return books and athletic gear, pick up yearbooks, pay fees, and get their caps and gowns. Aspen\u2019s High School graduation will be next Saturday, May 30, in the Buttermilk parking lot. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"4.9300155520995\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"20.706065318818\">\n<p><strong>Aspen High School graduating senior Connor Chesner, left, reaches up to catch his cap and gown from Jolaine Pfeifer as senior Aidan Ledingham, center right, waits in line while teacher Sarah Benson removes the form taped to the car window at the Aspen School District Campus on Friday, May 22, 2020. Aspen\u2019s seniors drove their cars between the high school and elementary school to return books and athletic gear, pick up yearbooks, pay fees, and get their caps and gowns. Aspen\u2019s High School graduation will be next Saturday, May 30, in the Buttermilk parking lot. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-2-1024x682.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-2.jpg\"> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen High School graduating senior Connor Chesner, left, reaches up to catch his cap and gown from Jolaine Pfeifer as senior Aidan Ledingham, center right, waits in line while teacher Sarah Benson removes the form taped to the car window at the Aspen School District Campus on Friday, May 22, 2020. Aspen\u2019s seniors drove their cars between the high school and elementary school to return books and athletic gear, pick up yearbooks, pay fees, and get their caps and gowns. Aspen\u2019s High School graduation will be next Saturday, May 30, in the Buttermilk parking lot. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-3-1024x686.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Hayley Heinecken receives her cap and gown from Aspen High School\u2019s registrar Jolaine Pfeifer on Friday, May 22, 2020. Aspen\u2019s seniors drove their cars between the high school and elementary school to return books and athletic gear, pick up yearbooks, pay fees, and get their caps and gowns. Aspen\u2019s High School graduation will be next Saturday, May 30, in the Buttermilk parking lot. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"swift-gallery-slide h-100\" readability=\"2.9418103448276\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"16.67025862069\">\n<p><strong>Hayley Heinecken receives her cap and gown from Aspen High School\u2019s registrar Jolaine Pfeifer on Friday, May 22, 2020. Aspen\u2019s seniors drove their cars between the high school and elementary school to return books and athletic gear, pick up yearbooks, pay fees, and get their caps and gowns. Aspen\u2019s High School graduation will be next Saturday, May 30, in the Buttermilk parking lot. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<br \/><a class=\"buy-link\" href=\"http:\/\/aspentimes.mycapture.com\/mycapture\/remoteimage.asp?backtext=Return+to+AspenTimes.com&amp;backurl=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/&amp;image=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-3-1024x686.jpg&amp;notes=https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-3.jpg\"> Buy Photo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/05\/graduation-atd-052320-1-3-1024x686.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Hayley Heinecken receives her cap and gown from Aspen High School\u2019s registrar Jolaine Pfeifer on Friday, May 22, 2020. Aspen\u2019s seniors drove their cars between the high school and elementary school to return books and athletic gear, pick up yearbooks, pay fees, and get their caps and gowns. Aspen\u2019s High School graduation will be next Saturday, May 30, in the Buttermilk parking lot. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">Basalt High School\u2019s seniors know how to handle difficult times. From the Lake Christine Fire in 2018 to the death of classmates Anna Cunningham and Tyler Ribich last year, changing up graduation amid the novel coronavirus pandemic is hardly a big deal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThey have adapted well,\u201d BHS principal Peter Mueller said Friday. \u201cThey have always been about caring for each other and they\u2019ve always been about carrying a certain levity and reflection about what\u2019s most important in life, and I think that\u2019s what makes them a special class, is how gentle and thoughtful they are with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The latest hurdle came in the form of COVID-19, which brought an early end to in-person learning this spring and has forced the class of 2020 to adapt to a new normal as their high school careers come to a close. The BHS seniors finished up their final classes and exams Friday, meaning the only thing left to do is walk across the stage and graduate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">That graduation ceremony will happen next Saturday, May 30, although it will look a little bit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/basalt-graduates-talk-about-family-friendship-at-saturday-ceremony-after-tragic-year\/\">different than it has<\/a>. Much like other area schools are doing, including Aspen High School, BHS will hold a drive-in style graduation in the school\u2019s parking lot at 9 a.m. that day, a change from the traditional ceremony on the football field. A stage will be set up in front of the school and the audience will remain in their vehicles and listen in on the radio.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"row at-donation at-donation-mobile p-0\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"handleDonationButtonClickMidArticle()\">Donate<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The in-person attendees are being limited to students, immediate family and BHS teachers and faculty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAt first I was kind of nervous and a little bit upset, because obviously we don\u2019t get the traditional graduation,\u201d said BHS senior Sasha Brucker, who along with Anne Schrock is one of the co-valedictorians for the class of 2020. \u201cBut now I\u2019m excited because I think it\u2019s going to be something fun and different. It will definitely be a memorable graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Mueller said BHS is looking at 104 graduates this spring, a solid jump from the 89 official graduates in 2019. This year\u2019s Longhorn seniors will pick up their caps and gowns Thursday, attend a graduation rehearsal Friday and then officially graduate the next day, albeit a little differently than would be the norm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThey\u2019ve been troopers at adjusting to challenges,\u201d Mueller said. \u201cWe\u2019ve tried to retain a lot of the traditions that have been a part of the spring of high school and the spring of senior year, so it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Basalt\u2019s graduation, which is scheduled to last roughly 90 minutes, will overlap some with Aspen\u2019s graduation, scheduled that same morning at Buttermilk Ski Area. The AHS ceremony had originally been scheduled for noon, but principal Tharyn Mulberry confirmed Friday it had been moved up to 10 a.m. to avoid the hottest part of the day and possible afternoon thunderstorms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThat\u2019s just too hot for graduation outside,\u201d Mulberry said of temperatures that could push 80 degrees. \u201cWe are in the tent typically, so nobody notices it, because you can get some air through there. But they will notice it in a parking lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Aspen\u2019s graduation also will be akin to a drive-in movie and limited only to students, immediate family and faculty. Local big mountain skiing icon Chris Davenport is slated to be the commencement speaker, while senior Quinn Ramberg is the school\u2019s valedictorian. The co-salutatorians are Kat Goralka and Maxine Mellin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The AHS seniors also wrapped up school Friday, when they were able to pick up their caps and gowns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe had the best turnout for senior checkout we\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Mulberry said of the event organized by Danielle Pratt, the school\u2019s head secretary. \u201cShe is so amazing. We had tents, it was outside, we were able to maintain social distance, we had gloves, we had masks. It was amazing how well our students complied with that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:acolbert@aspentimes.com\">acolbert@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/like-aspen-basalt-high-school-to-hold-drive-in-graduation-ceremony-on-may-30\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Students celebrate with the traditional cap toss to close out the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on the BHS football field. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times Buy Photo Principal Peter Mueller gives introductions during the Basalt High School graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 1, 2019, on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2458766","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news","7":"category-photos"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-08 06:17:32","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2458766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2458766\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2458766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2458766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2458766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}