EPIC Charter Schools, in its first-ever virtual graduation ceremony to honor the Graduating Class of 2020, conferred diplomas on 3,805 students on Saturday, June 6. The virtual ceremony, believed to be the largest of its kind in the state, included recorded remarks from notable Oklahoma speakers such as former Gov. George Nigh, members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation and state lawmakers.
“This isn’t the graduation ceremony any of us expected when we started the 2019-2020 school year,” said EPIC Superintendent Bart Banfield, “but our first-ever virtual ceremony is testament to a guiding principal at EPIC – the only constant in the world is change and we must be resilient, innovative and adapt to it. Watching our record-number of graduates succeed academically in the face of a global pandemic is truly inspiring.”
The virtual commencement had all of the elements of a traditional graduation ceremony, including the reading of every graduate’s name, recognition of academic honors, valedictorian addresses and special guest speakers.
Many EPIC families planned in-home celebrations with families and friends and celebrated graduates in real time as the graduation live streamed on June 6.
Graduates from Carney include Autumn Martin.
Graduates from Chandler include Bailey Allen, Jadeyn Golay, Skylar Hardgrave, Cobe Hicks, Erica Lambert, Tristan Lancaster, Shelbi Metcalf and Kayla O’Briant.
Graduates from Davenport include Jaycob Harris.
Graduates from McLoud include Jacob Baldwin, Michael Callaway, Julieanne Campbell, Benny Creech, Jonathan Crockrell, Savannah Dietrich, Mackenzie Flanagan, Charli Florence-Clark, Riley Gilliland , Zachary Haynie, Ryan Kalies, Chase Lawson, William Neeley, Max Reynolds, Jason Tulgetske, Tori Tulgetske and Jayci Vickman.
Graduates from Meeker include Kalee Bennett, Nathan Brown, Enrique Flores and Benjamin Steele.
Graduates from Prague include Lynnzey Dunlap, Ryan Gahagan, Morgan Podest, Aspen Schmeusser, Jamie Sneed, Taylor Tanner, Savannah Thompson, Jaime Wallace, Raven Wallace-Swinford, Elizabeth West and Kylie Willis.
Graduates from Stroud include Ethan Grammer, Savanna Hale, Madelynn Palmer, Keith Porter and Jonathan Whitt.
Graduates from Wellston include Sebastian Burton, Colton Green, Joe Green, Jonathan Saxon, Dalton Story and Faith Washington.
The full EPIC 2020 virtual graduation ceremony has been archived on YouTube, Vimeo, www.epiccharterschools.org and EPIC’s social media’s platforms.