In the midst of seeing their children’s senior year of high school be all but canceled, the parents of St. Bernard’s Class of 2020 worked together to erect a billboard in their honor this week.

The billboard, which sits on Crusader Field at the corner of D and Henderson Streets, displays the students’ class picture, along with the hashtag “#ClassOfChampions.”

Parent Cindy Finck told the Outpost that the St. Bernard’s community wanted to do something creative for its senior class, who like many others across the country, will not have prom or graduation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re all a little disappointed about the way their senior year has been affected,” Finck said. “I think they’re all handling it like champs.”

With help from local photographer Tina Mori, alumnus Steve Kimberling and the St. Bernard’s administration, community members were able to get a giant printout of the class picture, and on Monday, Humboldt Bay Fire plastered it onto the billboard.

“HBF got to help honor the seniors of St. Bernard’s Academy by putting up their photo for all to see,” HBF wrote on Facebook. “Congratulations, class of 2020!”

Finck said that the seniors are very thankful for the billboard, and added that the St. Bernard’s community isn’t done thinking up other ways to honor the quarantined class.

“We have a lot of great parents who will pitch in last minute to make anything happen for these kids,” she said. “I hope we can do something more traditional like prom or a virtual graduation maybe. I don’t think anything’s off the table.”