Seniors Ella Renner and Maria Donlin sing the National Anthem at the beginning of the ceremony. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
Students waved to family members in the stands as they filed into the stadium. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
Student Council Vice President Alexandra Marie Nicholson gives The Welcome. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
Students waved to family members in the stands as they filed into the stadium. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
With appropriate social distancing in mind, the student body and the audience were kept at least six feet apart during the ceremony. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
Seniors receive their diplomas on the stage and return to their seats. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
Students waved to family members in the stands as they filed into the stadium. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
Senior Dox Joseph Raskin gave The Response On Behalf Of The Class of 2021. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
Several students decorated the tops of their caps with personal messages. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Jon Langham / Pioneer Press
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Seniors Ella Renner and Maria Donlin sing the National Anthem at the beginning of the ceremony. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
In a school year unlike any other, Oak Park and River Forest High School’s senior class capped the year with a unique graduation ceremony reminiscent of years past.
Earlier this year, based on COVID-19 guidelines at the time, administrators proposed dividing up the graduating class into two groups to hold separate graduation ceremonies.
Students waved to family members in the stands as they filed into the stadium. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
By splitting the 800 graduates up into two groups, each graduate was allowed to have two guests attend, based on spacing guidelines at the school’s football stadium stands.
In total, 819 students graduated from OPRF, a group that includes 31 National Scholarship Cup recipients and nine National Merit finalists.
Overall, the 2021 OPRF graduating class amassed $31.7 million worth of merit-based scholarships.
sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering
Students waved to family members in the stands as they filed into the stadium. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Senior Dox Joseph Raskin gave The Response On Behalf Of The Class of 2021. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Students waved to family members in the stands as they filed into the stadium. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Several students decorated the tops of their caps with personal messages. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Seniors receive their diplomas on the stage and return to their seats. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
With appropriate social distancing in mind, the student body and the audience were kept at least six feet apart during the ceremony. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
Student Council Vice President Alexandra Marie Nicholson gives The Welcome. Oak Park and River Forest High School held its 145th Commencement, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Oak Park, Illinois. (Jon Langham/for Pioneer Press)
