Clark Fork celebrates 2020 senior class with “Be the Light” event

CLARK FORK — When Brian Arthun flipped the switch to turn the lights on at the Clark Fork football field Friday night, it was hard for him not to reminisce about past football seasons and look forward to playing under the lights this fall.

“I’m not going to lie, as the football coach flipping the lights on, it gave me goosebumps and sent chills down my spine,” the Clark Fork athletic director said.

Clark Fork was one of roughly 100 schools in Idaho that took part in the “Be the Light” event Friday, turning their stadium lights on for 20 minutes to honor the 2020 senior class.

Clark Fork High families paraded past the field in their cars, honking their horns and maintaining a safe social distance from one another. Arthun said it was a great turnout despite the short notice for the event.

Arthun didn’t get to talk to all the seniors he was hoping to due to social distancing but he could tell from the ones he did speak with that they enjoyed the event.

“I know how much it meant to them,” he said, “and how much they appreciated the fact that we did something special for them under these circumstances and it was just a nice feeling for the community.”

Arthun stood on the field for a good portion of the event but also went around the parking lot and made sure everyone was being safe. He said he feels bad for the kids who are missing out on their final moments of their high school careers but he believes this showed them that people are thinking about them.

“I saw huge smiles on their faces when the lights came on,” he said.

Arthun said the staff at Clark Fork has been trying to brainstorm other ways to honor the senior class in the coming months but hasn’t set anything in stone because they don’t know what the future holds.

Arthun said he was glad he was able to joke around with a handful of his students while they sat in their cars.

“It was just nice to be able to see their faces,” he said.