![image of cake that looks like bus on table surrounded by pieces of cake](/content/sites/www/en_US/home/about-st-jude/stories/making-a-difference/a-virtual-celebration-kindergarteners-graduate-after-year-of-big-changes/jcr:content/par-1/cnt_image.img.16.medium.jpg/1624288401597.jpg)
After a year of changes and challenges, the 14 graduates of the 2021 kindergarten class at St. Jude celebrated their graduation in a big, virtual way.
Teachers and staff at the hospital worked together to create a virtual celebration to honor the graduates. Last year, the St. Jude School Program by Chili’s was unable to hold its traditional graduation ceremony on campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the school’s staff created an event to honor both their students’ achievements and their resilience.
“We had to cancel our graduation last year, which broke our hearts,” said K–6 school program teacher Michaela Shurden. “We did not want that to happen again this year. We were going to figure out a way to make it happen. This is an important milestone for our patients.”
Teachers mailed each graduate a cap and gown, diploma and a yard sign to recognize their achievement. All items were donated by Varsity Brands.
Each student’s family had the special task of sending in a short video. Dressed in their caps and gowns, the students shared their favorite things about kindergarten, and what they want to be when they grow up. The hospital’s Biomedical Communications video team compiled the clips and produced the video.
Shurden and her colleague Kaci Richardson shared messages along with principal Randy Thompson and school head Laurie Leigh. Special speakers included St. Jude President and CEO James R. Downing, MD, and ALSAC President and CEO Richard C. Shadyac Jr.
“We were disappointed last year, as everyone was, in terms of not doing graduations,” Leigh said. “We were happy to be able to share this with the kindergarteners and give them the opportunity to make their videos and to have this event.”
Read more inspiring stories
-
Research may help Camille take her first steps
Research conducted by the Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics may help patients like Camille, who has type 2 spinal muscular atrophy, gain the ability to walk.
-
Insights Learned Through Cancer Experience Now Help Others
St. Jude survivor Tristan Elsener has survived multiple bouts of cancer. He and his family have gained insights that can help others. Learn about the Caregivers Share podcast.
-
Participating in clinical trials to help cure the next person
Patients like Corey Luellen have benefitted from gene editing for sickle cell disease. Luellen participated in a clinical trial for the treatment because he wanted to help others.
-
Patient finds support, help and hope for Friedrich’s ataxia
Taylor Hurdle is taking part in a clinical trial for Friedreich’s ataxia at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
-
Patient reflects on 60th anniversary as childhood cancer survivor
Patient reflects on her 60th anniversary as a childhood cancer survivor
-
Finding Hope in Clinical Trials
A medulloblastoma clinical trial offered hope to 7-year-old Kinlee Johnson and her family. Learn more.
-
From Pain Crises to Good Vibes
Rashawn Hendrix
-
Family chooses St. Jude because of SAMD9/SAMD9L researcher
Family chooses St. Jude for care because of its expertise in SAMD9/SAMD9L syndrome.
-
Molecular diagnostics give Fletcher what some thought impossible: a diagnosis and treatment plan
Molecular diagnostics give Fletcher Fazenbaker what some thought impossible: a diagnosis and treatment plan for infant-type hemispheric glioma (IHG), a subtype of high-grade glioma — a rare brain tumor — that was not classified by the World Health Organization’s brain tumor classification guide until 2021
-
Surviving childhood cancer is just the beginning of Darshana’s story
Darshana Magan survived cancer 30 years ago, but her treatment caused long-term health issues. Read how she cares for her health and encourages other survivors.
-
Sickle cell disease education and support help Jayden excel
Jayden's care team at St. Jude is helping him manage and understand his sickle cell disease. Learn more
-
Scan-tastic! St. Jude helps Zara succeed
St. Jude child life specialists help patients understand the MRI scanning process to make it easier for them, and some patients are able to stay still enough for scans that anesthesia isn't needed.
-
Teen climbs new heights after bone cancer
Doctors at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital were able to save Micah Winkle's leg from bone cancer, but it was up to the teen to discover alternatives to the contact sports he had played before his cancer diagnosis. Find out more.
-
Limiting the side effects of treatment: Proton Therapy provides focused radiation
St. Jude has the world’s first proton therapy center dedicated to childhood cancer. Patients come from all over to receive treatment. One such patient is Brianna Gonzales.
-
Journey to the Jude: Lyudmila Tsurkan, PhD, Hematology, Kazakhstan
St. Jude lead researcher Lyudmila Tsurkan of Hematology smiles when recalling her childhood in the central Asian nation of Kazakhstan.
Careers
At St. Jude, your career makes a difference. We offer outstanding opportunities in the basic and translational sciences, clinical research, patient care and many other areas for talented individuals.