Their unusual senior year ended in the usual manner Friday as close to 300 members of the Webb City High School Class of 2021 received their diplomas at Cardinal Stadium.

Rain clouds threatened (as usual it seems) but only dampened the large crowd that evening with a light mist. Unlike last year, when pandemic caution ended in-person classes in March and postponed  commencement until mid June, it was dark before the ceremony ended and umbrellas were opened.

Principal Josh Flora said he was proud of the seniors because “we were asking a lot of them” as in-person classes resumed in August 2020. He recalled how he relied on the seniors to lead the other classes in doing what had to be done to stay in school.

“We weren’t sure we’d make it to Christmas break, let alone May,” he said. “Class of 2021, you are truly a special group.”

Valedictorian Shae Gilstrap credited her classmates because, “No matter how inconvenient this year has been, you made it through it.”

Superintendent Tony Rossetti also commended the seniors for helping to keep school in session despite the pandemic and how important that was. “We are here. We are in person. And we are better together,” he said.