Community honors Konocti Unified’s high school seniors with streetlight banners
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Community members honored the high school seniors of Konocti Unified School District with streetlight banners again this year, thanks in large part to the efforts of parent Rachelle Sapeta.
Last spring, Sapeta wondered how she could make her daughter’s high school graduation special during a global pandemic, when traditional graduation ceremonies were not permitted.
Her idea? To hang banners featuring portraits of high school seniors from the lamp posts along the roads most commonly traveled near Konocti Unified’s four high schools: Lower Lake, Konocti Education Center, Lewis School and Carle.
With community and parent support, the project was fully funded in less than two weeks.
This year, Sapeta’s son is graduating from Lower Lake High School, and given the popularity of last year’s project, Sapeta decided to organize the banners again.
This week, the banners returned to Main Street in Lower Lake, and to Lakeshore Drive and Olympic Drive in Clearlake to highlight this year’s seniors.
“It’s been so fun to hear from community members who share that they take the long way home just to see the banners, or to witness students posing under their photos in their caps and gowns,” she said.
Sapeta thought last year would be the only year she would do something like this, but the pandemic lasted longer than anyone expected.
Although students just returned to in-person school part-time, COVID-19 will likely prevent traditional graduation ceremonies once again. This project felt like a way to celebrate these hard-working students.
Sapeta credits Konocti Unified Superintendent Dr. Becky Salato for letting her run with the idea, Lower Lake High School secretary Sherry Hoeckendorf for her help coordinating the project, the Lake County Fire Protection District for rallying together and putting up the banners in just two nights, and the parents and organizations that made it possible through funding and other support.
Salato said, “Our goal is to help our students build both academic skills and the coping skills that enable them to thrive, and we believe the best way to do so is through personal connection. This has been a hard year for many, and we are so grateful to the community members who united around our students to remind them that they are loved and their accomplishments did not go unnoticed.”
The banners will be up until the week after graduation when students will be invited to take their banners home with them.
Last year, the banner project cost $10,000. This year, because much of the hardware could be reused, the total cost was slightly less, but still a significant investment.
Project funders include Sober Grad, Action Sanitary, First American Title, Chernoh Excavating, Clearlake Police Association, Clearlake Oaks Glenhaven Business Association, Rotary Club of Clearlake and Case Excavating, as well as community members and families.