EDITORIAL: SENIOR BANNERS RETURNING THIS MAY

Support from communities helps make this important project happen, and it’s something that the graduates and their families love.

In 2020, when Covid-19 interrupted the rhythms and routines of life as we knew it, the public responded in a variety of proactive ways. The world was introduced to Zoom, students figured out how to learn online, and the live-streaming of events quickly became a good option in the absence of social gatherings.

Those are all practices that continue today, four years removed from the start of the pandemic.

The challenges of 2020 produced another “new thing” that is now just something that we do — senior banners honoring the graduating classes of our communities. They went up for the first time that May and the response was incredible. There was little question we would do it again in 2021 — and we did — and it’s something that has continued in subsequent years.

The Courier is now making plans to honor the Classes of 2024 from Freeman Academy, Freeman Public and Menno with another round of banners that will hang on the light poles on Freeman’s Sixth Street and on Menno’s Fifth Street starting the first week of May.

And, as has been the case each of the past four years, sponsorships from the local community will help make this project possible. For $100 a business, organization or individual can have their name listed with the student’s name, photo and school information. The banners are then made available to the graduate after they are removed in June.

These sponsorships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and typically go fast. We’ve already taken a few in and will quickly ill the slots for all 19 seniors at Freeman Public, five at Freeman Academy and 11 at Menno. If you would like to be a sponsor, let us know soon. Call 605-925-7033 or email courier@gwtc.net.

Jeremy Waltner | Editor & Publisher