Help us honor the Class of 2021

We did not think we would be here again, but we are.

Another group of seniors has braved a year of COVID restrictions that left them without the traditional moments that mark the end of a high school career.

If they are athletes, they played limited schedules in front of small crowds.

They did not get to hear the roar from the stands or see a stadium full of fans. The support from a few family members, teachers and their teammates had to do.

There were no lavish senior nights or picnics, either. The limits on gatherings took care of those.

Most of the Class of 2021 spent the majority of their final school year in remote learning, with only a few weeks in classrooms and still with many of their friends and classmates exclusively on the other end of a computer monitor.

So they had to find other ways to connect, in socially distanced meet-ups or via social media.

And there were other milestones missed.

Homecoming looked different, if it happened at all, as did prom — no district-sanctioned events, just a few parent-sponsored gatherings.

There were no candid pictures taken for the yearbook or grinning selfies for Facebook. COVID has made the possibility of capturing the moments of a traditional senior year a near impossibility.

And yet, with all they lost, the Class of 2021, like their predecessors in 2020, weathered the limits, the changes, the uncertainty and the isolation like grown-ups.

They did the best they could with a situation that was far from what we would have liked to have given them.

That’s no small feat.

Last year, we decided to give the Class of 2020 its own unique sendoff in a special edition of our sister print publication, “Eastbound & Downtown.”

The magazine told the stories of some of the members of that senior class — and marked graduation for those who would be some of the first not to have a yearbook full of senior moments to sign and to share.

And judging by the response, that is exactly what happened. For many of them, Eastbound & Downtown’s graduation edition was their “yearbook” of sorts.

Now, it is time to do it again, for another class of students who have proven that they understand that when you are hit with the unexpected, you have two choices — roll up in ball and cry about what you have lost or get on with making the best of the situation.

The Class of 2021 did just that — and we, and their families, teachers, friends and classmates, are proud of them.

So, we have decided to do another special edition — another tribute to a memorable senior class.

We have committed to making this tribute even bigger and better than our first attempt — our way of celebrating a group of teenagers who we think deserve more than just a senior year with an asterisk.

This edition will include graduates from public and private schools — and some stories that will make you realize just how many students of distinction are right here in Wayne County.

We can’t wait to introduce them to you.

And you can help us honor them.

Just like last year, there are advertising opportunities in the magazine — a chance to show Wayne County’s Class of 2021 that their community is proud of what they have accomplished and who they are as young men and women.

Sales associate Joanne Littleton can tell you all about the options — and help you create an advertisement that not only honors these young people, but that gets eyes on your business. Contact her via email at jlittleton@newoldnorth.com

There will be many parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends who will see this special edition. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this opportunity to share your message with them and to show them that local businesses support Wayne County’s students.

And if you are one of those proud parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or guardians, there will be a chance for you to highlight your special senior with yearbook-style tributes complete with photos of — and messages to — your special graduate. The window to create your tribute will be open soon and those interested in featuring their loved one can email kfine@newoldnorth.com for details.

Here is what some of those that appeared in last year’s edition looked like:

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But this magazine is more than just a vehicle for telling stories and honoring achievements. It also represents another step toward a return to normal — to getting back to making memories, sharing milestones and celebrating as a community.

And we can think of no better place to start than by honoring a group of young men and women who have really done us proud.

Congratulations Class of 2021 — and to all the moms, dads, guardians, coaches, pastors, friends, siblings and school personnel who have helped them get here.