Class of 2020 graduation via ski lift at Sierra-at-Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a perfect day, at a perfect location, at a perfect celebration to wrap up what wasn't such a perfect senior year of high school.

On Friday afternoon, one by one, the South Tahoe and Mt. Tallac High School seniors stepped out of their decorated cars amidst cheering from teachers and staff. They sent the students onto the red carpet, down the stairs to more cheering, and dancing, and more red carpet, as they made their way onto a ski lift at Sierra-at-Tahoe.

To keep socially distant, the students went onto the chairs, one-by-one for their last journey as a senior. They were transported up the hill on their solo chairs, symbolic of their last few months as solo students. They were cheered on through distance learning, much as they were cheered on six-feet apart at the ski resort, high atop the hills near South Lake Tahoe.

Mt. Tallac High's graduating class went first, and once their celebration was over the 226 seniors from South Tahoe High made their way to Sierra-at-Tahoe.

As the South Tahoe High students stepped off the chairlift they were greeted by more people as they walked down the path to their final moments as a senior, including the Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jim Tarwater and the El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ed Manansala, Ed.D., Principal Carline Sinkler, Vice Principals Justin Zunino and Pat Harnett, LTUSD School Board members, teachers, and staff.

The students then went to a small platform perched at a special overlook of Pyramid Peak. Official photos were taken, more congratulations were given, and each student was given a swag bag from Sierra-at-Tahoe and a bag of goodies from the Sober Grad Night Task Force. Since there couldn't be the annual festivities after graduation, the task force gave students sweatshirts, coffee mugs, and a special grad charm.

Then back to their family's waiting cars that had driven up the side of the ski run to get their new graduates.

Zunino said the team from Sierra-at-Tahoe was fantastic to do all they did for the seniors, led by John Rice and Drew Bray.

"They have gone above and beyond and done amazing things," said Zunino of the graduation. There were five loads of road base brought to the chair lifts so all go safely get off as well, most donated by the community. Lunches were donated for the decorating and set-up crew.

"Sierra-at-Tahoe deserves an incredible thank you," Zunino said of their active partner year-round.

Also on hand for graduation were representatives from the California Highway Patrol, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, Lake Valley Fire, and the US Forest Service.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!