Schools

About the cover of the 2020 Graduation issue

Ann M. Augherton | Catholic Herald Acting Editor

Brianna Mata-Rivas from Bishop O’Connell High School was one of the students photographed by Catholic Herald staff to honor the Class of 2020. MATT RIEDL | CATHOLIC HERALD

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The cover of the 2020 Graduation Issue features 15 students from across the diocese. CATHOLIC HERALD

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 The Catholic Herald staff shares the disappointment and frustration of this year’s graduating seniors who are missing the traditions of prom, commencement, Baccalaureate Mass and the grand sendoff of faculty and friends.

Our annual graduation issue is the largest of the year and a big part of it is focusing on those traditions. So, we’ve worked with the schools to cover Graduation 2020 and give a shoutout to the grads and the salutatorians and valedictorians.

But Multimedia Producer Matt Riedl had a thought that mushroomed into a project that became our section cover and an inspiring video.

“How do we honor these kids who’ve had their senior traditions —  the kinds of things I still remember fondly from my own high school days —  so suddenly ripped away from them?” he mused.

Inspired by an Arlington photographer who took portraits of every senior at his daughter’s Arlington high school, Riedl asked, “Why can’t we do something like this for the seniors in the diocese?”

 And he did. Through social media, he offered seniors a first-come, first-served chance to have their photo taken in front of their homes in their caps and gowns.The response was overwhelming. 

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 from all of us on the Catholic Herald staff and kudos to Riedl for making this happen.

Buy prints or keepsakes of your graduate from catholicherald.smugmug.com.

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