CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Catholic High School had 17 different commencements in a mostly empty gymnasium, to maintain social distancing, instead of one large ceremony with thousands packed into Bojangles Coliseum as originally planned.

Small groups of students and immediate family stood on the basketball court to wait for their names to be called, grabbed their diploma covers, then stood in marked spots spaced out until it was time to turn their tassels.

There were no speakers, and each ceremony only lasted about 15 minutes to keep the staggered ceremonies moving.

It was a fitting end to the school year for graduates like Monica Doa, who already had prom canceled, sports stopped, and went through the end of their senior year from home.

“I wasn't expecting an in-person graduation at all,” Dao said. “So I consider myself really lucky to even just see anybody at this time.”

CMS is going through a virtual ceremony with a drive-through graduation.

Cabarrus County students are picking up diplomas from their cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The reduced crowd and lack of seating at Charlotte Catholic also loosened things up for the parents to walk right up to the stage to take their own photographs. The Charlotte Catholic principal said the school might adopt a version of this staggered graduation in the future.