The vehicles, decorated in blue and yellow streamers and balloons, began lining up a half-hour before the designated start time. The cars, facing the gymnasium entrance to Upper Perkiomen High School, stretched through the parking lot to the tennis courts. A DJ positioned near the doors encouraged the participants to be vocal.

            "C'mon graduates, let's make some noise," he said, raising his voice to compete with the music coming out of two large speakers.

            The drivers eagerly responded, repeatedly honking their horns. Participants yelled and clapped in celebration.

            Principal Rob Carpenter described the Graduation and Diploma Parade – held Friday, June 12 – as a major success. He said administrators combined aspects of the Senior Prom, which was canceled due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, with its normal elementary school parade, into one activity.

            "We received many positive comments," Carpenter wrote in an email message.

            Cars filled with graduates and their families began packing the north lot by 4:30 p.m. Approximately 30 minutes later, they started the slow drive past the front of the school – lined with yard signs depicting the graduate – to the band parking lot. In succession, a second DJ introduced each graduating senior.

            After rolling past Carpenter, Superintendent Allyn Roche and Assistant Superintendent Andrea Farina, front office staff – wearing blue Class of 2020 facemasks with the school insignia – handed out diplomas. Each student also received a care package containing a T-shirt, a graduation program, a chocolate bar, a Mario's gift certificate and a letter from Roche.

            The final student and family went through the line at around 7:30 p.m., a half-hour later than originally planned, according to Dave Thomas, the head of the school's video and film department.

            The graduates rolled through the parade in a variety of ways. Most of the students – wearing their graduation gowns, hats or both – enjoyed the ride in an assortment of vehicles. Some of the graduates absorbed the celebration standing through a sunroof. Others had feet dangling in the sunroof as they sat on top of the car. Several rode in the back of pickup trucks.

            A set of orange cones led each vehicle underneath an arch with an American flag hanging between two fire trucks. All six fire companies in the Upper Perkiomen Valley  contributed a vehicle.

            Carpenter thanked Scott Seip – Chief of the Pennsburg Vol. Fire Company No.1, and a high school staff member – who helped facilitate the inclusion of the trucks from the other companies.

            The principal also thanked the Red Hill Fire Department for the use of its fire police. 

            Of the 247 graduates, 70 attended the Western Career Technology Center. According to Carpenter, 15 percent of students will be entering the workforce and 12 students are entering the military.

            The principal said on the commencement video posted on the school's YouTube page that 70 percent of the class is entering a two-, four- or five-year college program. Those students earned $51,768 in scholarship money. Additionally, 16 percent of students are enrolled in a two-year associate's degree and/or technical program.

            As part of the school's virtual graduation ceremony, posted on YouTube later that night, Valedictorian Adam Dockery reminded his classmates to think about the things that made them smile over the last 12 ½ years. He also reminded them to strive to find happiness and to help each other meet that goal.

            "The truth is, the path will not be smooth or easy," Dockery said. "Hard times will find us. Keep a hand extended to the people of your past. No one will be upset to hear from an out of touch friend."

            To watch the Upper Perkiomen High School Graduation Ceremony visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu5O35dWUTE.

            To watch the Graduation & Diploma Parade visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F46gcp3WUkU.