Like most seniors, the coronavirus outbreak has made Julia Kupillas’ senior year anything but ordinary. Kupillas, a student at Palmerton Area High School, said when her school initially closed in March, she didn’t think its doors would be shut for long.

“I thought that after those two weeks,” Kupillas said, referencing last month’s temporary close down, “I honestly thought that we’d be back.”

But Palmerton still hasn’t reopened, and Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced that schools across the commonwealth would be closed indefinitely.

Now, Kupillas might not get a prom, or even a graduation ceremony. She said field trips and other planned experiences for her last year in high school have also been canceled. “It’s definitely pretty sad knowing we won’t get those opportunities again,” she said.

Kupillas’ 18th birthday was set to be another missed opportunity.

Originally, Kupillas wanted to have a party to celebrate her March 30 birthday. But because of COVID-19, she planned instead a family meal and a few video chats with friends.

Thanks to a few organizers on a community Facebook page called Palmerton Here and Now, Kupillas got a surprise she thinks will last a lifetime.

Clare Papay, the page’s founder, said she and a fellow member have been coordinating birthday parades for people in the borough celebrating their big days at home; as of Wednesday, the group has put on five to date.

A video from the parade celebrating Kupillas on Monday shows a procession of cars decked out in signs and balloons, honking and shouting as they pass the Palmerton senior’s home.

Kupillas said she had no idea the parade was going to happen until it started.

“I thought it was really awesome,” she said. “It’s definitely something that I’ll remember for probably the rest of my life.”

“In difficult times like this,” Kupillas said, “it’s really awesome to see how the community can come together for something like that.”