Idea born in pandemic isolation becomes graduation tradition

What began as a one-time gesture during the COVID-19 shutdown has become a yearly tradition in Fernley, where residents “adopt” high school seniors to help celebrate graduation.

The effort started in 2020, when schools closed and graduation ceremonies were reduced to drive-through events. A group of residents wanted seniors to have some recognition at a time when students could not gather or celebrate together. They created a Facebook group called “Adopt a Fernley High School Senior” after seeing similar efforts in other states.

“I just know that graduation’s really important,” said Kassie Mohler, who was one of the organizers and is still an admin on the page. “It’s your last hurrah and they weren’t going to have that.”

Families post photos and information about their seniors, and community members can choose a student to “adopt.” The adopter then coordinates privately with the person who posted the graduate for “adoption” to arrange gift drop-offs.

Gifts often include a card or letter along with the graduate’s favorite snacks, gift cards and balloons. Some families have even decorated seniors’ lawns with graduation signs.

In the first year, deliveries were strictly non-contact.

“You would just drop off on their doorstep, ring their bell and run away,” Mohler said. “We had tons of fun with it then because we didn’t get to even see each other.”

Almost 200 graduates were adopted in the first year and Mohler said the group has never had a senior go unadopted. Members can adopt as many students as they want, and there is no limit to how many times a student can be adopted.

“We try to get as many seniors as we can,” Mohler said.

To keep surprises intact, Mohler said members of the group are asked to temporarily remove seniors from the page until gifts are delivered.

A similar group was also created to adopt Silverland Middle School 8th graders and has nearly 600 members.

“It was supposed to be a one-time thing because times were different,” Mohler said. “Instead, it’s become something that everybody looks forward to.”