Madison High School faculty and staff held the 128th commencement for 82 graduates on Sunday in the school gym for an audience of family, friends and well-wishers.
The ceremony had the traditional accessories, such as recognition for academic achievements, instrumental and vocal music, and public addresses, but it also featured safety precautions of facemasks and social-distancing caused by the year-long coronavirus pandemic.
Isabel Gors, an MHS graduate who provided a student address, spoke of challenges during the 2020-21 school year when the Madison students expected disruptions and cancellations due to COVID-19 cases. Gors, who plans to study diagnostic medicine at Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, said the seniors and other students learned certain skills during the pandemic, such as adjusting to unforeseen circumstances and overcoming challenges.