Florida high school seniors receive diplomas from jet skis

KEY WEST, Florida—Covid-19 has forced many high schools to cancel graduation ceremonies and others to get creative.

In Key West, Florida, Somerset Island Prep’s class of 2020 didn’t walk across a stage to get their diplomas this year; instead, they rode across water. In a late May commencement ceremony, the charter school’s graduating seniors jet skied to collect their diplomas from the school’s principal, who was standing on the edge of a boat docked off the shore. Students still wore their caps and gowns and also face masks.

“This final ceremony for our seniors represents the same theme that has played out throughout the entirety of their time at Island Prep,” Principal Tom Rompella said in a released statement. “That no barrier is too large to overcome and that through creativity and hard work we can overcome any challenge.”

Students were given jet ski lessons prior to their graduation day.

According to an article from Insider, 12 seniors graduated in the class of 2020. Established in 2010, the high school is the only charter school on Key West, which has a population of about 24,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Other unique high school graduation ceremonies this year have included students riding ski lift chairs to collect their diplomas.