On Monday morning, more than 115 Evanston Township High School staff members donning masks and gloves hand-delivered yard signs to every graduating senior.
Celebratory yard signs have become ubiquitous over the past several years. The signs are typically used to raise funds, but this year the board members of the ETHS Boosters wanted to do it differently.
“We decided extraordinary times needed an extraordinary gesture,” board member Steve Johnson said.
The board decided every one of the 900-plus students from the graduating class of 2020 would get a surprise delivery.
And who better to delivery it than the school’s teachers, staff and administrators?
Beginning at 8:30 a.m., staffers lined up in their cars at the back of the school to pick up their signs, along with a list of names and addresses.
“I’m incredibly grateful at the outpouring of love from so many staff members who came out for our seniors,” said Nancy Marshall, parent of a graduating senior.
Senior Mia Testa said waking up to find the sign on her lawn was bittersweet.
“There has been a lot of disappointment, but I really appreciated this,” she said.
Mr. Johnson said their hope was to make this class as visible as any class has ever been.