During early months of 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic and resulting quarantine have changed our daily lives in too many ways to count. For students about to graduate high school though, the impact of an abbreviated school year has created ripple effects over a season that is supposed to be filled with memories and milestones.

While none of us imagined this kind of senior year for our youth we have developed a way to celebrate their graduation by sharing with them congratulations and memorable items.  They enjoyed many activities together during their years in 4-H and during 4-H Teen Council Meetings.

To begin their Graduation Celebration in their "Bag to GO"we included Issue # 6 Healthy at Home Navigating COVID-19 with Cooperative Extension.  The campfire magic on the cover was perfect as this brought memories of their campfire s’mores as 4-Hers.  We included a special message to them along with the ingredients for them to enjoy their very own s’mores at home with their families.  For their interactive bags we also included MyPlate educational literature, UK items such as hand sanitizer, lotion, chapstick, football and basketball.  They also received a nice art coloring book with coloring pencils to keep developing their artsy sides.  The 4-H back pack and other items were included along with Oh, the Places You’ll Go,  a book concerning the journey of life and its challenges, by Dr. Seuss. Many of these items represented their days of 4-H and what they adopted as meaningful and important to them.   

The bags were personally delivered to each 4-H Teen.  Leslie County Extension windows were also decorated honoring each 2020 graduate along with our seniors who were 4-Hers.  Their high school years were filled with 4-H participation such as: Community Service, Summit, 4-H Camp, State Teen Conference and 4-H Projects.  Each of our teens pursued positive youth development in our four guiding concepts: mastery, belonging, independence, and generosity.  Each of these Senior Graduates also achieved Bronze Level 4-H Achievement Awards. 

Participation and memories made in 4-H will be some of their guiding principles as they enter jobs, college and adulthood.