Josh Rackozy signs the Class of 2020 banner Tuesday.

NEW ULM — New Ulm High School Class of 2020 seniors began picking up diplomas Tuesday afternoon.

The school administration set up an appointment window in which graduates could come to the school to receive a diploma and take graduation pictures with immediate family.

Students would come to the front door at a scheduled time wearing the purple cap and gown. Each student signed the Class of 2020 banner and posed for an official picture with Principal Mark Bergmann handing over a diploma in front of the school’s eagle statue.

Bergmann said the hardest part was remembering not to shake hands with the students.

After the official photo families were free to take pictures of their own in front of the statue.

This official photo will be used as part of the school’s online graduation ceremony on Friday. The pictures will be inserted in the presentation along with videos of the class speakers.

Tuesday was only the first day of graduation photos. Roughly a third of the class, 58 students, were photographed. The rest of the class is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

The online graduation ceremony will be available online at 7 p.m. Friday. It can be viewed from the New Ulm High School’s webpage.