Billings Skyview High School will be hosting a parade- called the 2020 Falcon Finale- at 11 a.m. May 24, graduation day, to honor the 2020 graduates.
The school is also struggling to find new ways raise money for the graduates' annual celebration, and they're forging ahead with a virtual fundraiser to help fill the gap.
Brandy Malcher, chairwoman and treasurer of Skyview’s Falcon finale and chairwoman of Billings high schools' graduation committee, said Tuesday that the committee decided on a parade to celebrate student achievements as a replacement for the homecoming parade.
In previous years, Skyview and other Billings high schools hosted a lock-in party from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. During the parties, graduates would enjoy games and receive prizes from various raffles.
Malcher says this year, the parade will leave from MetraPark, end at Skyview High School and will allow family and friends who may not be able to attend graduation to cheer the graduates.
Malcher says that due to the pandemic, Master Lube was not able to host Master Lube day, where proceeds from services go to surrounding high school graduation events.
“Master Lube grad day honestly is probably half of our fundraising for the whole year. So, not being able to do that, we had to get a little more creative,” says Malcher.
Malcher says organizers of the Master Lube fundraiser came up with the idea of a virtual car wash. The car wash allows people who usually donate during grad day to still donate even though they aren't coming into the service station.
Malcher says the virtual car wash has helped, but they are still encouraging people to donate to support the 2020 class.
“It took a good start, but it is kind of in a little bit of a stall. We haven’t even hit $3,000 yet, and we usually make $10,000 to $15,000 on Master Lube day,” says Malcher.
For anyone that wants to help support the 2020 Falcon Finale, Malcher says there is a 2020 Falcon Finale Facebook event where people can find information on how to donate.
The Falcon Finale committee is accepting donations via Venmo, Pay Pal, and cash or check to their P.O. box.
“We have really reached out to just the Heights community as a whole. We really have a sense that we are trying to promote up here called Skyview strong, where everyone in the Heights area is behind Skyview. So, this has been a really
good way to help get that message promoted,” says Malcher.
Malcher says that on behalf of the 2020 graduating class at Skyview, the school will be working on a tree and plaque with every student’s name.
“Our way of ensuring their legacy - their hardships of canceling so many fun events and having to rise above the challenges of finishing their final high school year in a way no one ever imagined. We want them remembered forever in the school’s history,” says Malcher.
For more information on how to donate to the 2020 Falcon Finale, visit the 2020 Falcon Finale Facebook event page.
Related: Billings Senior High School will host parade for graduates
