UM to Light Main Hall and M to Honor Area High School Grads

The University of Montana will celebrate Missoula County's 2020 high school graduates by lighting up Main Hall in the various school colors starting next week. Each night, different colors will be displayed for Hellgate, Valley Christian, Big Sky, Sentinel, Willard, Seeley, Loyola and Frenchtown. What a beautiful idea and tribute to our area graduates, I love this, our hardworking students deserve it.

Colors will be lit up at the clock-tower building from 9 to 11 p.m. each evening, with white lights outlining the "M". Graduates, their families and members of the public are invited to the Oval to witness the lightings and take photos, but the University wants to remind you to take precautions by wearing masks and being mindful of  appropriate social distancing. They also ask that you park behind Main Hall or in the nearby parking garage when you visit campus for the lightings.

“High school graduation is a special time, and my heart goes out to our area students who are experiencing this significant rite of passage during a pandemic,” UM President Seth Bodnar said. “As Missoula’s hometown university, we celebrate the Class of 2020. Illuminating the M and Main Hall symbolizes our confidence in a bright future for these graduates and for our community.”

Main Hall will be lighted in the colors of the high school on these nights:

• Hellgate High School: Monday, June 1.
• Valley Christian High School: Tuesday, June 2.
• Big Sky High School: Wednesday, June 3.
• Willard High School: Thursday, June 4.
• Sentinel High School: Friday, June 5.
• Seeley Lake High School: Saturday, June 6.
• Loyola High School: Sunday, June 7.
• Frenchtown High School: Monday, June 8.

You can also honor your graduate by submitting their senior photo to our Class of 2020 Digital Yearbook along with adding their name to our on air commencement to be held on Saturday, June 6th at noon. Here's the Digital Yearbook so far!