Queen Creek High School seniors get surprise congrats from their teachers

PHOENIX — With Arizona schools closed due to the coronavirus, students from the class of 2020 are experiencing an unusual end to their senior year.

They’re missing out on traditions, such as prom, and facing the possible reality of no graduation ceremony.

As a way to make things a little better for their seniors, Queen Creek High School teachers drove to their homes and put up signs that read: “YOU DID IT CLASS OF 2020.”

“It’s challenging times right now, and anything we can do to just bring a little joy to these kids’ faces I’m all in,” said Austin Watkins, an English teacher and coach of the varsity football team at the school.

Watkins spent the weekend dropping off the signs and did so again on Monday.

“I’ve been at Queen Creek High School for four years … so this senior class truly means the world to me,” he said.

“I saw them as little baby freshmen, now big seniors and going off to college.”

About 500 seniors are graduating from Queen Creek High School this year, including Gus Campbell who said this is not the senior year he envisioned.

“Unfortunately, we don’t get to have a prom and most likely not a graduation,” Campbell said. “But it’s awesome for the teachers to do something very selfless.”

The 18-year-old said he’s thankful to the teachers who “went out of their way” to make the situation a little better for him and his peers.

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