Celebrating JHS graduates despite pandemic restrictions

Jefferson High School teacher and photographer Dawn Smartnick started creating personalized composite photos of each willing 2020 graduate due to the ongoing effects of COVID-19.

In a typical year, Smartnick takes photographs of the graduates and their families after the ceremony. This year, with graduation plans still in the works due to social distancing and other pandemic restrictions, Smartnick decided to try another way to honor the graduates.

“These kids are pretty special,” she said, adding that it also happens to be the year her eldest son, Ethan, graduates from JHS.