YUHSD schools shine stadium lights in honor of Class of 2020

Every Wednesday night at 20:20, YUHSD field lights will shine for 20-minutes.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - There are only a few coming of age milestones in a teenager's life, and high school graduation is a big one.

Last month, Governor Ducey closed all Arizona schools due to COVID-19, leaving the class of 2020 questioning what will happen with their graduation.

The assistant principal and athletic director at Gila Ridge High School, Steve Anderson, said, “I don’t think there's one district employee that doesn’t miss their students. From bus drivers to cafeteria workers to teachers to librarians.”

Anderson is heartbroken knowing his class of 2020 will be the first class to not have a traditional graduation.

“It’s heart-wrenching, you feel bad for the seniors that have worked so hard to get to this point,” he said.

But the seniors will still shine bright, even if it's not on stage on graduation day.

Every Wednesday night, for the remainder of the school year, the Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) is turning on the stadium lights at each of its schools at exactly 8:20 pm for 20-minutes to honor its Class of 2020.

Anderson said, “8:20 pm because of military time it would be 20:20, to honor the class of 2020.”

Adding, “People driving up and down interstate 8, highway 95, they're going to be able to see these lights.”

On Wednesday night, from their cars in a lot across the street from Gila Ridge HS, a small group of seniors and their families celebrated the lights as a reflection of their high school memories.

One junior football player said, “It really means something special especially for the seniors out there, for the class of 2020 since they might not have a graduation.”

“[These lights] make the three or four years worth it at the end,” said a senior football player.