San Marcos High School provided a graduation experience worth remembering on Wednesday evening, with a drive-in style celebration and a livestream ceremony.

The unique commencement was held because the COVID-19 pandemic has kept students across Santa Barbara County away from campus since March.

The global public health emergency is preventing school officials from hosting traditional ceremonies where hundreds of students, faculty and attendees gather in large numbers.

Wednesday’s schedule included a variety of festivities to honor 470 new graduates.

The Class of 2020 and their families were asked to decorate their cars, and watch the ceremony from inside their vehicles. They parked in the parking lots around campus.

On campus and at home, students and their supporters logged in on personal devices to watch the ceremony on the school’s social media or a Zoom-based broadcast.

Attendees also could hear the event over the radio while parked on the high school campus.

Students and their families fill decorated vehicles to attend graduation ceremonies at San Marcos High School on Wednesday. (Brooke Holland / Noozhawk photo)

Carloads of graduates showed up, and many had balloon-decked vehicles to commemorate the occasion. Seniors arrived in their caps and gowns during the celebration on school grounds.

The digital ceremony included live and pre-recorded moments, including speeches from students, notable SMHS alumni and Principal Kip Glazer.

“No one graduates alone,” Glazer told Noozhawk before the ceremony. “We are all in this together, and educating our future is the most important job that I have been privileged to do and proud of.”

She gave a heartfelt speech.

In Glazer’s first year as principal, she will “never forget how you (students) made me part of this amazing school community with your kindness,” later adding, “For that, and so much more, I am eternally grateful to you.”

She also shouted out the hardworking Parent Teacher Student Association.

Standing at a podium inside the school’s auditorium, Class of 2020 graduate Bobby Carroll delivered his commencement speech on stage.

Students and their families fill decorated vehicles to attend graduation ceremonies at San Marcos High School on Wednesday. (Brooke Holland / Noozhawk photo)

“San Marcos showed me a path to being a better person, and I took the journey,” Carroll said. “I can’t think of any other way to repay all of the love and support I got at this school from everybody here.”

San Marcos turned him into a responsible, funny and energetic person, he said.

“This school showed me how to grow and mature, and not be ashamed of who I am,” Carroll said. “It breaks my heart I’m going to be leaving this school.”

Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Alejandra Gutierrez, who graduated from the school in 2001, and Councilman Oscar Gutierrez, a member of the Class of 2002, offered well wishes to the graduates.

“You have achieved a milestone in your life, and I hope you guys have a lot of success in the future,” Alejandra Gutierrez said. “I know COVID-19 stopped a lot of celebrations, but we are wishing you the best for your future.”

The school's counselors called the names of the graduates during a nearly 40-minute pre-recorded slide-show video. The names were featured one-by-one alongside their photograph that appeared on the screen.

Vehicle horns honked, and community members cheered loudly and waved to each other out the car window as the graduating class names were called.

Outside in the parking lot near the Turnpike Road and Hollister Avenue intersection, 18-year-old Hunter May —donning a cap and gown — sat inside a car with his supporters.

A giant, blue-colored graduation cap was fastened on top of the car. 

“I’m excited,” he said of graduating high school.

Senior Class President Franciele Pereira led the Pledge of Allegiance, Class of 2020 graduate Ben McAvene performed the national anthem, and the school’s activities director, Aaron Solis, served as emcee of the celebration.

The commencement event was available in Spanish and English.

Maria Larios-Horton, the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s director of English learners and parent engagement, accepted the Class of 2020.

At the end of the ceremony, Glazer stood in front of the school along Hollister Avenue and waved to passing cars filled with graduates and their families. She also waved the school flag and showcased its royal pride.

Dr. Glazer waving goodbye to the Seniors as they leave campus after graduation.@KEYTNC3 @KEYTNC3Beth @Noozhawk pic.twitter.com/i8lLaBU0j0 — San Marcos Royals (@SanMarcosRoyals) June 4, 2020

The graduating students will receive their diplomas at a “stage walk” next week at the San Marcos Greek Theater. The graduates will be broken down into smaller groups at the three-day celebration.

At the outdoor ceremonies, the graduating class will experience the retro-style of walking across the stage like their grandparents and parents did.

“For many years, the school graduated its seniors on that stage during a ceremony,” said Analese Alvarez, dean of student engagement. “It (graduation) only in the last 10 years or so moved to the stadium.”