Why I love Oak Ridge!

I just have to give a quick back story here. I am originally from Seattle, WA. It must have been a Friday night when I came to Oak Ridge 15 or so years ago. I could not get over all the people tail gaiting for a high school football game. I thought it was crazy. Fast forward to my first WILDCAT football game... I absolutely loved seeing the kids line up on the stairs just to touch each player. THAT is what got me! These little kids, lining the stairs cheering on their team would someday be walking down the stairs as a future wildcat. It all made sense!! That is why everyone in Oak Ridge tail gates during football season for a high school game! It is all about supporting your community! That right there, is why I decided my youngest was going to be a WILDCAT!

Now, I tell you all that because today, I saw it again! Community!!! Because of a crazy thing called COVID, these Seniors had their world turned upside down this year. But this amazing community came together! Everyone came to support these Wildcats! It was pouring rain, but it didn't matter! We were all there to cheer them on! These Seniors may not have gotten to walk the stage at Blankenship, but today they got to see just how much the Oak Ridge Community cares about them! I was touched, and again reminded, why I love Oak Ridge!

I tried to get everyone, but I also left you a gift in your goody bag from the Oak Ridge Civic Center. :-)

Congratulations Class of 2020!


A decorated minivan celebrates graduation with balloons and signs attached to the roof.
A decorated silver SUV with pink ribbons and a 'Congrats' sign displayed for a celebration.
A black SUV decorated with balloons and a large balloon figure on the roof for a celebration.
A white SUV decorated with red balloons and ribbons for a special occasion.
A white convertible decorated with red balloons and ribbons parked on a street.
A silver minivan decorated with red balloons and celebration messages.
A red convertible decorated with patriotic colors and congratulatory messages.
A pickup truck bed filled with celebration participants holding umbrellas on a rainy day.
A group celebrating under an orange umbrella next to a decorated car with yellow balloons.
A black convertible decorated with streamers and celebratory decorations.
A black GMC truck decorated with red ribbons and a congratulatory sign for graduation.
A sign reading 'DO NOT STOP' with orange traffic cones in the background of a parking lot.
Graduates in burgundy gowns holding decorative signs while standing under umbrellas in the rain.
Graduate holding black umbrella in burgundy graduation gown standing in rainy parking lot.
Graduate with orange umbrella and green shirt walking through parking lot with traffic cones.
Graduates in burgundy robes holding celebratory signs while standing in the rain.
Graduate in burgundy gown holding yellow sign while standing under umbrella in parking lot.
Two graduates in burgundy robes holding personalized signs while standing under umbrellas.
Graduates in burgundy robes holding decorated graduation signs while sheltering under black umbrellas.
Graduate with rainbow umbrella holding decorated sign in burgundy graduation gown.
Two graduates in burgundy robes showing off decorated graduation signs in rainy weather.
Graduates in maroon gowns hold signs during an outdoor celebration with umbrellas on a rainy day.
Graduates in maroon robes stand outdoors holding personalized signs during commencement.
Graduate in maroon cap and gown displays orange decorative sign during outdoor ceremony.
Two graduates in maroon regalia pose together on a rainy campus path.
Graduate in maroon cap and gown stands outdoors among orange traffic cones.
Graduate holds colorful sign under blue umbrella during outdoor celebration.
Graduate in maroon regalia proudly displays decorated skateboard at commencement.
Group celebrating graduation outdoors with umbrellas on rainy day.
Graduates celebrate with colorful signs during outdoor commencement ceremony.
Graduates display personalized celebration signs at outdoor commencement event.
Students hold signs and colorful umbrellas during a rainy graduation celebration at University of Tennessee.
People gather under blue pop-up tents in a parking lot during an outdoor event.
Graduates in burgundy gowns and caps stand with umbrellas on a rainy day.
Graduate in burgundy cap and gown holds sign and umbrella on grassy campus lawn.
Graduates in maroon gowns display celebratory signs while holding umbrellas on a rainy graduation day.
Graduates with umbrellas display name signs during a rainy commencement ceremony.
A line of graduates in maroon gowns stand with umbrellas during rainy weather.
Graduates in burgundy robes smile while holding patterned umbrellas during commencement.
Graduates in red gowns hold signs and umbrellas while celebrating on a rainy day.
Group of graduates and student in maroon gowns pose with umbrellas during ceremony.
Graduates in burgundy gowns hold decorated signs and umbrellas during an outdoor commencement celebration.
Students in crimson graduation robes pose with decorated signs under colorful umbrellas.
Graduates shelter under umbrellas while displaying personalized UTK signs on a rainy day.
Graduate in maroon cap and gown smiles while holding a customized name sign outdoors.
Graduates in red robes holding umbrellas and displaying university signs during commencement.
Two graduates share a purple umbrella while celebrating in their burgundy graduation robes.
Graduates in crimson robes display decorated signs and take photos during commencement.
Graduate with pink hair poses in burgundy graduation attire on campus lawn.
Graduate in maroon regalia holds decorated sign while standing under blue umbrella.
Graduate poses with congratulatory sign under green and orange umbrellas during outdoor ceremony.
Graduate in burgundy cap and gown holds a sign while standing under an umbrella on a rainy commencement day.
Graduates with colorful umbrellas celebrate outdoors with signs during a rainy ceremony.
Graduate wearing burgundy graduation attire holds a patterned umbrella while standing on grass.
Graduate in maroon regalia holds a sign under a black and white umbrella during outdoor ceremony.
Three graduates in maroon gowns pose together on a grassy lawn during commencement.
Two graduates in maroon robes share a floral umbrella during outdoor graduation photos.
Graduate in maroon regalia stands on walkway holding black and white umbrella during rainy ceremony.
Graduates celebrate on decorated flatbed trailer during rainy drive-through graduation ceremony.
Graduate in red gown walks through rainy parking lot during outdoor commencement celebration.
Line of graduates in maroon robes stand with umbrellas during outdoor ceremony in the rain.
Red sedan driving through a rainy parking lot with water droplets visible on the exterior.
A happy black dog sitting in the passenger seat of a car on a rainy day.
People in red robes holding umbrellas stand in the rain as cars drive past.
A gray SUV stops in the rain while someone holds a sign near the window.
People with umbrellas stand in the rain as vehicles pass by on a wet road.
A line of people in red robes stand with umbrellas beside orange traffic cones in the rain.
People in burgundy robes line a wet street while holding umbrellas as cars drive past.
Row of people in red gowns holding umbrellas and signs along a rainy street.
Crowd with umbrellas lines a wet street while cars drive through on a rainy day.
An orange lifted Jeep drives past people with umbrellas on a rainy street.
Graduate in burgundy cap and gown holds up a purple sign with their name during outdoor celebration.
Graduates standing on grass holding a decorated sign in the rain under an umbrella.
Cars drive past people with umbrellas standing along a wet road during graduation.
Graduates in maroon robes wave to passing cars while holding umbrellas in the rain.
Three graduates in maroon robes stand on grass holding umbrellas during a rainy celebration.
Group stands on sidewalk with umbrellas during graduation, some wearing maroon robes.
Graduates and guests line up with umbrellas on a rainy day outside brick building.
Three graduates in maroon robes hold signs and umbrellas on rainy graduation day.
Graduates with umbrellas stand spaced apart holding signs near yard decorations.
Graduates in maroon gowns celebrate under umbrellas in a rainy parking lot.
Graduate in red cap and gown holds black umbrella in parking lot on rainy day.
Student in red graduation gown holds 'Senior Skip Day Champs' sign while carrying umbrella.
Graduates in red gowns stand near handmade signs in parking lot.