By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Clouds during the day of June 3 gave way to a fabulous and beautiful evening, which was perfect for Shrewsbury High School’s class of 2020 to make one “Last Ride” through campus.
And what a ride it was. With horns honking and music playing the cavalcade of cars – many decorated – filed through to see their teachers one more time with a mixture of smiles and tears.
Graduates and their families were directed to enter the campus from the Holden Street entrance onto the campus. They were first greeted by a stirring sight of a stream of signs, one for each of the class’s 501 graduates, guiding them uphill towards the school.
School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Sawyer and SHS’s Principal Todd Bazydlo were busy greeting staff and faculty who had come to line the route around campus to cheer the graduates, many of whom were wearing the class of 2020 red t-shirts with the slogan “Refuse 2 Lose” in support.
Bazydlo said, “The parade came as a result of the work from the class officers and our class officers wanted to do something a little bit different and special to get people together but apart and our staff certainly wanted to celebrate our kids and get together…It’s been a challenge to marry the parts of students wanting to get together.”
It took about one hour for the all the vehicles to make their way through campus. At the very end, a jumbotron was set up with a farewell message of congratulations to the graduates.
“I think that the high school put together a really great slate of different ways to honor our senior class under these really challenging circumstances and I think today’s parade is a way to see all the faculty and staff here waving good bye to the kids and it’s a nice capstone to the year that will certainly be memorable for the students,” Sawyer said.
When asked how he felt as a parent of one of these students, he replied, “I’m proud of my graduating senior, my daughter, (Sheila), and I’m so thrilled that for many years I’ve seen our students come through our school district and have great experiences and to experience that from the parent side of the equation has been really fulfilling and she is well prepared and excited to head off next year to college.”
Photos/Melanie Petrucci 
