LAKELAND, Fla. — Family members of seniors from Polk State Lakeland Collegiate High School held their own commencement ceremonies for 35 graduates on Saturday at Mirror Lake Park.

“It feels good! I’m glad that we had a ceremony after everything,” said graduate Jazzlyn Ocasio.

It’s a graduation that almost never happened, after the pandemic shut down school in March, and then canceled prom and graduation. 

“Well, their high school did not want to do a walking ceremony and I decided we can’t let that go,” said organizer Tawny Simon, who is also the mother of a graduate. “They have worked so hard and their families have worked so hard to get to this point. Every high school graduate deserves this moment.”

The students had the chance to walk the stage in front of their friends and families, thanks to their friends and families.

“You wouldn’t think that parents would come together to make it possible for their children without the help of the school, so I think it was tremendous,” said Britaney Jones, Ocasio’s aunt.

“I’m just glad that something good could come out of it,” said Ocasio.

They say the day was made even more special, because it came from the heart.

“It was made out of love. It was made out of love,” said Jones.