Orono High School holds drive-in style graduation ceremony

ORONO, Maine — Orono High School held a drive-in style graduation ceremony at the University of Maine on Saturday. Students with their families parked in the Belgrade Parking Lot in front of a stage as graduates were called up one by one to accept their diplomas. 

Eva White smiles for a photo during the celebratory procession of graduates after Orono High School’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 6. Courtesy of Matthew Schilmoeller.)

There were a few technical hiccups at the start,  principal Reg Ruhlin said, as they set up the video and sound systems so people parked far from the stage could watch the ceremony. 

The school also had to move the ceremony to the morning instead of 2 p.m., as they had originally planned, because of weather concerns. Despite these issues, graduation worked out well, Ruhlin said.

Afterward, students and their families drove through the town for a celebratory procession. It was a great success,” Ruhlin said. [It] really highlighted the tight-knit community of Orono.”

Orono High School graduates also had their senior night at the Bangor Drive-in Theater on June 2.