JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With our high school schools holding non-traditional or delayed graduations, News4Jax is proud to host virtual ceremonies for Jacksonville’s class of 2020.
In partnership with High School 9:12, we are hosting a series of tributes called “Brightest and Best” presented by Community First Credit Union. The series will ultimately include virtual graduations and showcases for 29 Duval County high schools, six St. Johns County high schools and six private schools.
As part of this series, students and faculty are invited to share their thoughts about the unique challenges that this year has brought, along with their favorite memories of being together as they look forward to the future.
“Brightest and Best” programs began airing Saturday, May 16, with programs featuring the graduates of Baldwin Middle-Senior High School, Wolfson High School, Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts, Beaches Chapel Academy and Seacoast Christian Academy.
The second Saturday, May 23, we recognized the graduates of six more high schools: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Trinity Christian Academy, William Raines High School, Robert E. Lee High School, Ed White High School and Atlantic Coast High School.
We saluted the Class of 2020 at five more schools on May 30: Westside High School, Terry Parker High School, Stanton College Preparatory Academy, Andrew Jackson High School and Sandalwood High School.
On June 6, we’ll recognize seven schools: A. Philip Randolph Career Academies, Frank H. Peterson Academies of Technology, Paxon School for Advanced Studies, Jean Ribault High School, Duncan U. Fletcher High School, Christ’s Church Academy and Mandarin High School.
The programs continue on June 13, honoring the graduates of Englewood High School, River City Science Academy, Florida State College at Jacksonville, The Potter’s House Christian Academy, Greenwood School, Alden Road, Mt. Herman and Palm Avenue Exceptional Schools, Bridge to Success Academy, Duval Virtual School and Marine Science Education Center and First Coast High School.
The weekend of June 20-21, we begin broadcasting St. Johns County school programs, with Creekside High School featured Saturday and St. Johns Virtual School and St. Johns Technical School on Sunday.
The final weekend of June, WJXT will broadcast Brightest and Best programs featuring Bartram Trail High School on Saturday and Ponte Vedra High School on Sunday.
Allen D. Nease High School’s graduates will be showcased on the Fourth of July. Our series of tributes will conclude the weekend of July 11/12, with St. Augustine High featured on Saturday and Pedro Menendez High School on Sunday.
Once the programs air, videos for those we have permission to archive will remain online at news4jax.com/graduation.
Missy Peters, director of Community Affairs for Community First Credit Union of Florida, recently appeared on The Morning Show to talk about the programs: