Erath High School - Erath, LA

Erath High School is a unique academic institution that values character and community as much as it does student success. With a five-year "A" rating, students graduate with honors and accolades that the small, rural town reaps in alumni returns. This year with the onset of a national health crisis, the town felt the strain of not being able to rally in the usual close-knit support of the graduating senior class. Still, Principal Marc Turner and the Erath Bobcat family pulled together a beautiful graduation ceremony on the expansive football field and, following the state health department mandates, made the event set against a brilliant summer sunset even more unique and special as relatives sat amidst a sea of royal blue and white and paid tribute to the Class of 2020. This year it was not just about the scholarships and valedictorians (there were 11!) but about honoring the tradition of graduating from high school against all odds. The event itself was unforgettable, much like experiencing four years as a part of the Bobcat Nation.