More than six months have passed since the Midwest began feeling the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus. In the second week of March, dozens of states and local governments began enacting shelter-in-place orders and other restrictive measures. Flash forward two months and students, teachers and parents alike faced horrible disappointment as commencement ceremonies were postponed or cancelled. As of October 22, 2020, 8,378,569 cases and 222,157 deaths have been reported nationwide. While there is no clear end to the COVID crisis in sight, these trying times have already provided much in the way of lessons learned.