Schools across New York are closed for the rest of the school year, and with social distancing and other restrictions still in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic, high school graduations are hanging in the balance. That means a tremendous amount of achievements will not get the public celebration and recognition many believe they deserve.

Graduation also creates a lifelong memory. It seems everyone can remember walking across the stage to receive their diploma with family, friends, and loved ones in the crowd.

So State Senator Jim Tedisco is calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to allow graduation of a different kind.

“While it’s certainly not the same thing as a traditional high school graduation ceremony, I think we have a unique solution that could work for some school districts and communities, and that’s to allow drive-in movie theaters to safely host a version of a graduation ceremony while maintaining social distancing,” Tedisco said.

Tedisco is asking the governor to sign an executive order to allow school districts and municipalities to host drive-in commencements. He’s said he already teamed up with the Malta Drive-in for the celebrations to take place there.

Tedisco said the theater can project a pre-taped graduation messages on their big screen with pictures of the graduates. He said those theaters can fit hundreds of cars safely while maintaining social distancing. Students would receive their diplomas in the mail.

“I think we’ve got to do something to bring this memory to these graduates who are achieving something very important. They graduated. They’re going out to do bigger and better things,” said Tedisco. “In all the things that have happened and taken away from this, I’d like to give them the ceremony back and at least some semblance. I think this would be a pretty good one.”