photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High and Lawrence High graduates sported masks in addition to their caps and gowns during graduation ceremonies Saturday, July 18, 2020, at the schools' stadiums.

Masks joined caps and gowns as essential graduation attire Saturday at Lawrence’s high schools, where seniors finally gathered for ceremonies that had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Free State graduates gathered at their school’s outdoor stadium Saturday morning, while Lawrence High graduates gathered at their school’s stadium Saturday evening.

The Lawrence school district planned to use a staggered entry and exit approach in an effort to mitigate contact during the ceremonies. A limited number of guests were allowed for each graduate, and those guests were also required to have tickets. The district and the Lawrence-Douglas County health department said they worked together to ensure the plan followed public health guidelines, including social distancing of at least 6 feet.

Lawrence High had about 350 graduates and Free State had about 430 this year, although district officials anticipated that more graduates than normal would choose not to attend the ceremony.

(Photos by Ashley Golledge/Special to the Journal-World)

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Board of Education members GR Gordon-Ross and Erica Hill participate in Free State High School’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Aalana Samuels participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium. Samuels delivered a speech to her classmates during the ceremony.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Board of Education member GR Gordon-Ross, left, and Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis participate in Free State High School’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School Principal Myron Graber participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Superintendent Anthony Lewis addresses the graduating class at Free State High School’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis addresses the graduating class at Free State High School’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Malayah Demby participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Wyatt Durland participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Matthew Brandenburger addresses the graduating class at Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Aalana Samuels addresses the graduating class at Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Aalana Samuels addresses the graduating class at Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School students participate in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium. Students and family members practiced social distancing during the graduation ceremony.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Malayah Demby participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Kendra Wakolee participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Alex Chavez participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

A Free State High School graduate wears a decorated graduation cap at Free State High School’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School students Malik Berry, left, and Maurice Carson participate in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Malik Berry participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School students participate in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School students participate in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

From left, Free State High School students Parker Drake, Lydia Bond and Peyton Case participate in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Violet Bartle bumps elbows with Superintendent Anthony Lewis during Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Trinity Dent bumps elbows with Principal Myron Graber during Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Kasey Dunn participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Andrew Bittinger participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Free State High School student Andrew Bittinger participates in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

From left, Free State High School students Violet Bartle, Isabella Crawford-Parker and Rylee Green participate in Free State’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence School Board President Melissa Johnson participates in Lawrence High School’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School Principal Cynthia Johnson participates in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Lana Chieu addresses the graduating class at LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Angela Young addresses the graduating class at LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Jahmal Flowers participates in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Hailey Coon participates in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

A Lawrence High School graduate wears a decorated graduation cap at LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Allison Appelhanz participates in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Max Adams participates in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence School Board President Melissa Johnson hands a diploma to Lawrence High School graduate Nicholas Kennedy at LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Abigail Afful participates in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduates participate in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

Lawrence High School graduate Star Her Many Horses participates in LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.

photo by: Ashley Golledge

A Lawrence High School graduate wears a decorated graduation cap at LHS’ graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the school’s stadium.