Graduate tally holds steady for 2020

WHITMAN COUNTY – While graduation ceremonies aren’t as typical this time around for Whitman County seniors, this summer will mark the graduation for 329 students.

This year’s Class of 2020 remains the same count as the Class of 2019.

Past senior counts show slight fluctuation with 339 in 2018, 299 in 2017 and 287 in 2016.

Colfax will graduate 41 seniors, one more than the year before. Colfax will hold a drive-in style graduation ceremony on June 6 at 11 a.m. for students and immediate family only. At the end of the ceremony, the cars will be lined up and escorted by the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol back to Colfax.

Colton will graduate 11 seniors, the same count as last year. Graduation ceremony plans are still in the works.

Garfield-Palouse will graduate 16 seniors, two less than 2019. If regulations allow, Gar-Pal plans to hold its graduation on June 27 at 10 a.m. for students and immediate family only. The graduation is planned to be live-streamed for the community to enjoy.

LaCrosse will graduate five seniors, the same count as last year. The LaCrosse School District has submitted a proposal for a June 27 graduation ceremony. The proposal must be approved before any plans can be moved forward or announced.

Oakesdale, with the same count as the year before, will graduate 11 seniors. A planned graduation is set for June 6, but details are still in the works for what type of ceremony will take place.

Pullman brings the highest graduating class in the county with 203 students, five less than the year before. In a drive-in format, Pullman High School will hold its graduation on June 12 at the University of Idaho to have adequate space for the drive-in graduation.

Rosalia is graduating 13 seniors; five more than last year. The Rosalia School District is still in the planning stages of this year’s ceremony.

St. John-Endicott raises its graduating class by two, with 21 graduating seniors. Graduation is set for June 7 at 2 p.m. Specific details for the event are still being worked out.

Tekoa will be graduating eight seniors, one less than last year. A graduation ceremony will be held on June 13 at 2 p.m. In an update to parents and students, Tekoa Principal Dan Hutton said if Whitman County is in Phase 3, graduation will be held outside the High School on the lawn. Plans are still to be determined.