With graduations, prom nights and senior activities all canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, someone in Inyo County figured out a way to make lemonade out of lemons, with Adopt a High School Senior –an Inyo County Facebook group, based on a national movement. Click on and vVisit the website to see photos of the Seniors and the gifts.
Kimberley McCormick started it and told Sierra Wave that she was invited to join an Adopt a High School Senior by a friend in Southern California and thought, “Wow, this would be a great thing to do here!” She, like most of us that live here, realize what great kids we have and that the High School Classes of 2020 could use a “little love” considering how the Covid-19 pandemic has turned their word upside down. The program is for all high school students in the Owens Valley.
When you hear the enthusiasm in McCormick’s voice when she talks about the program, it is no small mystery why, of all people, she would be the one to kick it off. It is what it must be like to have the Energizer Bunny show up and take charge…the rest of us are just trying to catch up with her.
The Adopt a High School Senior Facebook Group has 642 members…and growing. Can it be emphasized enough that this program is for all high school graduating seniors at all the Inyo County schools?!! That includes Bishop, Big Pine, Independence, Lone Pine, Palisades and Death Valley…why not?!
Some 50-plus high school senior students have already received gift baskets full of flowers, congratulation cards, gift certificates and one photo showed a high school senior holding a basket of his favorite snacks.
So, how does this thing work? As explained by McCormick, a parent or guardian of a local high school senior is invited to post 
a picture and brief bio of their graduate in the Facebook group. They are provided with a brief questionnaire for the student to fill out asking what types of things they enjoy or that they are interested in. Based on that, they can be adopted by people in the community who can send them gifts, cards, and support.
Not everyone has a Facebook account, but interested parents, guardians and people that want to “adopt” by calling McCormick at (760) 258-7694 and make arrangement to coordinate an email exchange.
How excited is Kimberly McCormick about the Adopt a High School Senior? Well, she is already talking about seeing if maybe she can expand it to Mono County high school seniors! This woman has a lot of energy…and her enthusiasm and love of children have made a difference in our communities’ high school seniors. This is a very nice woman.
[The Sierra Wave strongly endorses this program and supports and congratulates all of our high school seniors throughout the Eastern Sierra. Aside from showing our high school seniors that we care about them and value their lives and their futures, how anyone chooses to support others during the coronavirus pandemic should be left up to each individual.
Under normal circumstances, Sierra Wave would be covering the high school graduation ceremonies which brings the graduating seniors together with their classmates, friends, families and those that love them. This year’s Class of 2020 will not have that experience, one that most adults and parents have experienced, remember with fond memories, and cherish all that is shared on that special day. High school graduation is an important milestone in our lives and marks a passage to adulthood.Let’s support this program and lets support our children.]
Wow some people are unbelievable plenty of senior citizens are getting help out there, it’s a great thing to also focus on our young people. The people of our future. They deserve anything people can afford to help with. They sure didn’t ask for any of this, they were gonna… Read more »
In case you didn’t notice this story is about people in the community trying to make things better for kids that are getting ready to go out into the world. I haven’t seen anywhere in this article that states people HAVE to do it. These are people that have chosen… Read more »
Instead of adopting high school seniors during this pandemic, why don’t we instead adopt a senior citizen? Or better, have high school seniors adopt a senior citizen.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
Hi Lori, what a wonderful idea, if you need help getting something like that started please reach out to me and I’d love to help you get that going!
Kimberley, I would love to organize something like that with others. I’ll try to look you up on FB. (Laughs to myself because I just noticed someone downvoting Kimberley’s comment to me. That’s some petty, passive-aggressive, yet par for the course behavior. ????Hope it made you feel, even for a… Read more »
Reese How surprising, huh ? I know of a senior on the list, and his Dad probably has more money in his pocket right now than I’ve ever had in a bank account IMO, sending the wrong message to a 17 or 18 year old. Maybe a better thing to… Read more »
Hi David, The adopt a senior program isn’t really about how much money their parent has. I don’t believe that should have anything to do with whether the kid should be adopted for this program or not, and I can assure you that most kids that are participating in this… Read more »
We have a page in our community and the seniors posted their Amazon list…… PlayStation , airpods, nail sets and other insignificant items. I adopted a senior and sent what he needed for college…I’m thinking some are taking advantage and the parents are loving it. The post “Let’s help clear… Read more »
I am a mother of a currrent BUHS Senior and am a little disgusted by the previous negative, detached, ignorant comments. This pandemic has affected everyone everywhere and is taking it’s toll. My daughter has been a laser focused academic who has worked 2 jobs while on honor roll plus… Read more »
Those comments arent ignorant. Its ignorant to think that the best thing to contribute to is some pampered kid that has been allowed to be “laser focused” and not people who are losing their lives, their livelihood, and much much more. Far better places to donate !!!
Why don’t you post your real name so we know what garbage is among us?
I feel sorry for the seniors not getting a proper graduation now, but can think of better things to donate to right now,for those who can afford it…I’m sure once things are back to normal,the local high schools will arrange 2020 graduations for the seniors..
It’s my understanding that BUHS is arranging a graduation ceremony in early to mid August. Unfortunately a lot of the kids will have already left to further their lives and their education elsewhere so they will be missing out regardless. So the adopt a senior program is just a small… Read more »
I can’t afford to do this, I need to pay my employees first…
Do what you need to do, as will we, these kids are the future.
What a waste of time and resources when there are so many other good places to donate to. I dont think a bunch of spoiled kids that dont appreciate anything anyways need this.
Good bye, hi there. It’s unfortunate that you think this is a waste of time and resources, please by all means feel free to donate to wherever you would like to donate to. Please find the program on Facebook and look at the smiles on these kids faces for receiving… Read more »
Good bye, you sound like a miserable, negative hag. Don’t donate then, nobody said you had to, and if you think people should donate to other causes, why don’t you spend some time to set something up in stead of crying around on social media? The only one that is… Read more »