Members of the Class of 2020 at West Hartford’s Conard High School were celebrated as they paraded through town Monday evening.
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton. Photos by Ronni Newton and Shirley Redman
In a first-of-its-kind graduation celebration in West Hartford, members of Conard’s class of 2020 paraded through town in a graduation caravan of at least 250 cars, many of which were decked out in style – sporting Conard colors or the colors of future colleges the students will attend.
Led by the West Hartford Fire Department and a car carrying Principal Julio Duarte, and with West Hartford Police bringing up the rear, the parade began at Conard and ended at Webster Hill Elementary School. In between it wound through the Duffy Elementary School neighborhood, down Boulevard and South Main Street before turning onto Webster Hill Boulevard.
Congrats to the @ConardCHS Class of 2020! #WestHartford #WeHa pic.twitter.com/c6dZdxIV3Y
— We-Ha.Com (@WeHartford) June 16, 2020
Supporters lined the route, cheering, holding up signs and ringing cowbells as the caravan passed by, car horns honking and soon-to-be grads waving. A group of teachers, excited to see their students again after several months of online-only contact, camped out near the end.
A plane, trailing a “Congratulations Class of 2020” banner, flew over both the Conard and Hall parades, which took place concurrently.
Students received their diplomas in a private ceremony at the school earlier in the day, and will have a drive-in graduation ceremony on June 24 at the Farmington Polo Grounds.
Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Shirley Redman
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Shirley Redman
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Shirley Redman
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Shirley Redman
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Shirley Redman
Conard High School Class of 2020 graduation parade. June 15, 2020. Photo credit: Shirley Redman
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[…] night, I was fortunate to stand in my yard and wave to graduates (including my daughter) as they drove by in cars that they had decorated for the occasion. I was incredibly moved, and touched, by the number of kids who, on their night, were saying thank […]