PRIEST RIVER — Seniors Ben Zapfe and Jakia DeMotte have enlisted in the United States Army and are shipping out before their classmates graduate on July 11, but that hasn’t stopped the community from putting together a ceremony to honor their academic accomplishments.

“We wanted to do something for them,” Priest River Lamanna High School Principal Joseph Kren said. “Once we found out when their ship date was going to be and if we could do any type of large, medium, small, extra large type of gathering, things just lined up.”

For over two months Kren had plans of putting together a special graduation ceremony, which was approved by the Panhandle Health District with limited attendance and as long as social distancing requirements were promised to be followed. Kren said the two families will sit on separate bleachers and the ceremony will take place outdoors in front of the school building.

“They are going to come in marching with their recruiters,” He said. “We actually are going to have them raise the flag in the school when they walk in and then we will have them play the national anthem.”

The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at 10 a.m., weather permitting. This is the first time that the school has ever held a separate graduation to honor any of their students entering the military.

“Typically their ship date is late enough in the year they would still be a part of our celebration and we would just recognize them separately during the graduation ceremony,” Kren said.

Kren anticipates the ceremony will last about 30 minutes, which he said is enough time for the two seniors to walk across the stage, teachers and staff to cheer them across the stage and to say some congratulatory words.

“They are both fine young men,” Kren said.

“We are really proud of them, we are excited for them and it’s good to know that we have young people who are willing to stand up for what they believe in. I am honored to have the opportunity to know them as their principal.”

Direct attendance will be limited to Zapfe and DeMotte’s immediate family members. However, Kren said that he hopes to get a livestream set up for the event and welcomes students to attend as long as they remain in their vehicles.

This request is made in order to follow Idaho’s social distance protocol enacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are going to keep it real small and simple,” Kren said. “It’s just the matter of fact of them being able to march in, walk across the stage, get their diploma and march out. It’s important that they have the opportunity to do so.”

Kren said both Zapfe and DeMotte have indicated interest in the military for most of their high school career. Last year, Priest River Lamanna High School had eight students enlist as well.

“We always take time in our commencement ceremonies to recognize anyone who has enlisted,” He said.

The regular graduation ceremony will take place on July 11 at 10 a.m. for the remaining 50-plus high school seniors. The students will be seated six feet apart in the outdoor athletic stadium seats.

“We are going to be pretty much the only school in North Idaho to provide a traditional graduation for our kids,” Kren said. “I know a lot of schools made that tough decision to honor their students the way they did.”

Family and friends are invited to attend the July 11 graduation ceremony and are welcome to join them by sitting all around the track infield and the connected practice field to the east of the track.

Guests are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the ceremony. Social distancing will be practiced and individuals must maintain the required 6-foot separation.

Aly De Angelus can be reached by email at adeangelus@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @AlyDailyBee.