At 6:30 a.m., Segal Field was transformed into a lively gathering place for the senior class, celebrating their final year together during senior sunrise.
As the first rays became visible over the trees, a sea of students – dressed in senior T-shirts and decked out in boas and crowns – gathered on Aug. 21, 2024, the beginning of their last chapter together.
The tradition, which was moved from the end to the beginning of the school year, saw students arrive early to take pictures with childish backpacks and share a prepared breakfast before the start of their classes.
“It was really nice to be all together on our last first day of school and I’ll remember this morning forever,” senior Libby Liuzzi said. Her thoughts on the experience were widely shared.
Senior Davis McMayon echoed the class’s enthusiasm for the event.
“It was cool to finally experience the senior traditions after hearing about them since freshman year,” he said.
Senior Rob Hankamer was regretful after choosing to not attend the event.
“I regret not going after seeing and hearing how much fun the sunrise was, but I will for sure go to the sunset at the end of the year,” Hankamer said.
Senior class president Maddy Billipp and her vice president Bennett Bowman envisioned this year’s modification of the tradition and made it come to life.
“We were really excited to see all the seniors having fun and taking in the moment because it made our last first day together that much better,” Billipp said.
The date of the event changed to earlier in the school year to increase students’ attendance and create a fun morning that could be repeated by following senior classes.
As the sun rose, students took more pictures, shared stories, and made their way to the senior breakfast as they embraced the start of their last year together in high school.
