Juniors and Seniors experience Hawaii

For the annual Junior/Senior Banquet, the upperclassmen headed out for a night of fun at the Denver Aquarium this past Sunday. They ate a Hawaiian-themed dinner, watched traditional dances, and explored the aquarium.

“My favorite part was hanging out with my friends, it was cool to be able to try different food and watch presentations from other cultures,” reflected Daniel Moraes, senior.

Upon arrival at the aquarium, the students were escorted into the Nautilus ballroom for supper and presentations. During supper there was a mammal presentation from the aquarium where they brought in a porcupine. 

Lindsey Smith, senior, commented, “It was really cool to see her walk around. I had never seen a porcupine so up close, especially one from Africa. I learned her quills were glossy, meaning they are not barbed, so they don’t stick when you get poked.” 

The junior class officers planned the event and arranged for a group of traditional Polynesian dancers to perform for the evening entertainment. Ariel Patterson, junior class Vice President shared, “I thought it was really cool to be able to invite them out to perform and have them display the beauty of their culture to all of us. It was especially fun to see the Santanas up there learning the moves.” 

Once all the presentations were completed, the juniors and seniors explored the aquarium freely. Junior Sujamis Colmenares remembered, “My favorite part of the aquarium was putting my hand inside the fish tank where the piranhas were; at the moment I didn’t know what they were, but thankfully I found out in time. That was a very fun but scary memory.” 

The Junior/Senior banquet is an annual tradition to give the juniors a chance to bid the seniors farewell as graduation approaches.

Haley Beckermeyer, Student News Team