2020 was definitely a year the graduates of Northwestern Lehigh High School will never forget.

On Saturday, the 180 seniors gathered one last time as they said their final farewell to their high school career, but this gathering was not the typical graduation thanks to the coronavirus pandemic that closed schools and canceled many milestone activities across the state since March.

One by one, the students filed into the high school at their allotted time slot, dressed in their caps and gowns, and received their diplomas in front of just their families. They then returned to their vehicle and drove away.

After this drive-thru graduation, the seniors met at Ontelaunee Park, where a special tribute was planned, a parade of cars to celebrate the accomplishments of these young men and women.

The idea for the senior tribute began after Jolene Miller, a mother and stepmother of two graduates, wanted to make sure the seniors had a proper send-off since proms, sports and the final months of students’ high school career was taken away by a virus.

She enlisted the help of Karen Heiter and professional photographer Leroy Bogert to put together care packages and a senior tribute in Ontelaunee Park that would serve as the graduation tribute.

Goodie bags were delivered to the students the week before graduation with the help of the “Adopt-a-Northwestern-Senior” Facebook page spreading the word.

“It brought the community together in ways I couldn’t imagine,” Miller said. “(The tribute was) a way for us to help keep their spirits up and give them a chance to have one final goodbye to their fellow seniors.”

See more coverage in the Times News graduation insert to be published June 25.