August 02, 2025

Newton Adopt-A-Senior campaign underway

By Jocelyn Sheets
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Newton High seniors Devonn Hansen, left, and Alexis Smith, right, had their profiles posted by someone on the Adopt A 2020 Newton Senior Facebook page last week when the campaign began. The Facebook page was created to show support for Newton High and Newton West Academy seniors after the coronavirus crisis had canceled school and activities this spring including prom, senior awards day and — presumed — traditional in-person graduation. (Courtesy Photo)

Every high school student anticipates all the unique activities they will be able to do their senior year. All the Class of 2020, including Newton High School and Newton’s West Academy, will have a place in history.

The NHS and West Academy seniors will be forever linking to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

“I had a daughter who graduated from Newton last year and I would have been devastated if she didn’t get to walk the stage with her friends for graduation have her graduation party and do all the stuff we got to do as seniors,” Haley Currie said.

With that in mind, Currie, who has four other children in the Newton district, and a friend, Amanda Ramsey, came up with the Newton Adopt-A-Senior campaign. Currie created a Facebook page — Adopt a 2020 Newton Senior — April 20.

“Amanda invited me to a page called Adopt-A-Senior 2020 and you can be from anywhere — any state it doesn’t matter,” Currie said. “That’s a lot of posting and I did adopt one of my friend’s kids off that site but it’s a lot of postings. So we did one specifically for our Newton seniors.”

Currie said it was a way to show the seniors support. People, not just seniors and their families, can join the group and “adopt.” Mainly, parents put profiles of their Newton and West Academy seniors on page and anyone can sign up to “adopt” any senior on there by commenting on that senior.

Newton High senior Devonn Hansen’s profile was put on the page by his mother, Mindi. He said he didn’t know much about it until it happened last week and began gathering momentum.

“I was pleasantly surprised by it. I had already accepted that my graduation and senior stuff had gone up in smoke because of COVID-19,” Hansen said. “This Adopt-A-Senior campaign is something we really appreciate as seniors acknowledging our time in school.”

Those signing up to “adopt” a senior are encouraged to contact the people who posted the senior profile through a private message to find out ideas. Currie said the senior she adopted was sent a graduation card, a gift card and she planned to put together a gift basket.

“This is all by word of mouth to join the page. We’re trying to make sure all seniors are included if they want to be,” Currie said. “Those on the page need to share it with others. These seniors are missing their prom, extra curricular activities, Senior Skip Day, walking the stage and so much more. It’s about showing them we care and support them.”

Alexis Smith’s profile was posted by a family friend on behalf of her parents. Most senior profiles tell a little about the senior including some of the things they like, activities they’ve been involved and future plans.

“It was terrible finding out we were not going to go back to school and I was heartbroken knowing we’d not get to do our senior stuff we were wanting to do all year,” Smith said. “Most of us have had to cancel or postpone our graduation parties because of the virus restrictions.”

Currie said she thought Newton High had 180 in the senior class and she wasn’t sure of West Academy’s count. She said there was someone who was making a great effort to put the West Academy seniors on Newton’s Adopt-A-Senior page, as well.

“Since I created it about a week ago, it has really taken off. We limit it to one post per graduate but there’s no limit on how many seniors people can adopt,” Currie said. “We want to make sure every one is adopted. You can do a card, gift basket or baskets. It’s up to you on how to support the senior or seniors you choose to adopt.”

Hansen, who is writing a book, said he’d like books in the fantasy and dark novels genre that are on the market so he can learn what is being published and how to craft his book. He said some of his friends have told him parents are personalizing what times to send their children.

“It might be something they need for their college years or something they wanted but haven’t had the opportunity to get yet,” Hansen said. “It’s just a great way for people to show us support right now in this weird time we are going through.”

Hansen is currently already taking online classes at DMACC. He plans to go to DMACC, then transfer to the University of Iowa to earn a degree in psychology and a masters in human services.

“I’ve continued to work part-time at Park Centre during this time,” Smith said. “I help with activities, so I get to do the fun stuff. I want to get a full-time job after this. I’ve thought about going into photography and possibly nursing down the road. This Adopt-A-Senior idea is helpful through all of this for us.”

To participate, go to Facebook and look up “Adopt a 2020 Newton Senior” for the page with all the senior profiles on it.

“Let’s all shower our seniors with some extra love. Adopt a senior or two or more ... Send a letter, card, gift, gift card, snack, anything to let them know we’re all rooting for them,” Currie said.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets at 641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com