When Nolan Rehrig’s name is called at his graduation ceremony, the Jim Thorpe Area High School senior won’t walk across the stage to receive his diploma. He’ll cross the finish line at Pocono Raceway.

With traditional graduation ceremonies on hold due to the coronavirus, Jim Thorpe Area School has announced it will hold its ceremony on the triangle-shaped racetrack on Wednesday, June 3.

“We are very excited to be able to have a memorable in-person graduation ceremony in a modified format over a totally online ceremony,” Rehrig said. “This will be a graduation ceremony unlike most.”

Superintendent John Rushefski said the event will provide the memorable graduation that the Jim Thorpe Class of 2020 deserves, especially after they were forced to complete their senior year online when schools across the country closed due to coronavirus.

“Over the past two months, students and teachers have made many sacrifices with the cancellation of cherished traditions and activities, but there has been no group in the school district more impacted than the Jim Thorpe Area High School Class of 2020,” Rushefski said.

Before COVID-19, the seniors successfully petitioned the district to let them move graduation to the high school stadium from the gym, where it has been held for several years.

Rushefski said that the event will “honor the seniors’ request, and allow our seniors their well-deserved moment of graduation that they have worked for their entire academic career, while adhering to the social distancing mandates set by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Holding the ceremony at the track will cost the district $4,500.

Pocono says they are willing to work with districts like Jim Thorpe to provide a ceremony which complies with social distancing guidelines. Graduates and guests will remain in their personal vehicles throughout the event. The program itself - speakers, music and graduates’ names - will be broadcast on the track’s video boards and FM radio station.

Further details including the time of the ceremony will be announced in the coming weeks.

Pocono Raceway CEO Nick Igdalsky said that it’s an honor to host local high school graduation ceremonies at the track.

“It is all about the students and giving them the chance to celebrate all they have accomplished during their high school careers. The response from additional school districts has been incredible and we are open to hosting as many ceremonies as possible,” he said.

The Class of 2020 was excited to hear that they would not miss out on graduation.

Class President Cobe Frycklund, who presented the board with the petition to hold graduation outside, said he’s grateful to the parents, administration, board members and Pocono Raceway for making the event happen.

“We are very excited to be able to have graduation surrounded by our classmates and families and look forward to a memorable, safe graduation ceremony.

Class treasurer Kaitlyn O’Neil said it will be a memorable event for everyone.

“It gives us, as a class, a way to feel some closure and the ability to “see” each other and our teachers one last time. I am very excited for the experience.

Part of the reason the class wanted an outdoor graduation was because the stadium held more people than the gym.

Rehrig said he is excited that more family members will be on hand to witness his graduation.

“We are glad that this allows for extended family to join us in celebrating. It is an experience that we will always remember and will be able to share with friends, family, and future children.”