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The T.R. Miller High School Class of 2020 graduated Fri. night. A socially distanced event, the ceremony took place at the Brewton Municipal Stadium at 8 p.m.

With separate entrances for graduates and guests, faculty and staff closely followed all health guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Before the ceremony, all 70 graduates reported to the new gym, while four guests per graduate entered through the stadium gates located next to the field house. Guests were seated in rows marked for each graduate, and every guest was required to have a ticket and mask in order to enter the facility.

Speaking to her class, Valedictorian Ella Hart posed the question, “Class of 2020 what is your vision?” Encouraging her classmates to boldly face the future, she shared, “Do not be afraid to take risks, fail or make a change. Don’t look back on life and say, ‘I wish’ say, ‘I won.’” Most importantly, she emphasized the need to set goals and never stop learning. “No dream or goal is wrong to pursue if you believe it is worth while. School has given us the baseline of curiosity. Stay curious, reflect, live in the moment and look forward to now having full control of what your future holds. With great responsibility comes great risk,” said Hart.

Addressing the audience, Principal Chuck Alford was thankful for the ceremony. “We are here tonight to finally grant the diplomas to our Class of 2020. This is the most unique of times and at one time we were not sure we would even have a ceremony. We’re still not sure what the expectations are going from here,” he said. Despite the changes in the ceremony, Alford focused on the exciting moment that was taking place. “Even with the limitations, we want to cherish this moment with each senior as they become a graduate and alumnus of T R. Miller High School,” he said.

The top 10 seniors of the TRM Class of 2020 are:
#1 Ella Hart
#2 Matthew Bishop
#3 Clay Lang
#4 Steven Beasley
#5 Kaitlin Ellis
#6 Hannah McFerrin
#7 Sam LoDuca
#8 Ean Carpenter
#9 Abigail Cave
#10 Matthew Wagner

At the ceremony, graduates and guests were spaced 6 ft. apart.