On Thursday, June 6, seniors celebrated their last day of high school with a capstone gala displaying their projects and an award ceremony honoring their accomplishments. After a month of seniors being in and out of school for their capstone projects, they  returned to school for their final week on June 3, and officially ended their senior year on June 6. 

Seniors had the option of spending their last month of school, from May 13 to June 3, at a company or business related to the field they want to pursue after college. Some went to their old elementary or middle school to assist a teacher, while others visited tech companies, research centers, or volunteer organizations to shadow employees and gain insight about what a job in their dream field looks like. Seniors showcased their projects on colorful tri-folds for parents, teachers, and peers to learn more about at the capstone gala. 

Senior Alyssa Tucker did her capstone project at the Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District. “We worked through a couple of programs, such as the reforestation program, which were planting trees in areas that had been deforested,” Tucker said. “My favorite part about the experience was being out in nature because a lot of the time we don’t really think about it too much or really get to take in all of its beauty. I loved getting to see wildlife; I got to see some horses and cows, and overall, it was a lot of fun.”

While the capstone project was an opportunity to experience what a job in the field they want to pursue after college looks like, it was also an experience that prepared seniors for the job life and how stressful or demanding it can be. Senior Isha Vepa did her capstone project at the Loudoun Montessori School, a private elementary school, and learned a lot over four weeks of supervising three to five year old children. “[The experience taught me] patience for the most part, because I figured out that it was hard to handle some kids since some had different limits of tolerance,” Vepa said. “At that time, I  learned to cooperate with each kid as they had their own limits and behavior range. Some of them get irritated [and] triggered way easier than others, which led us to put more effort and energy towards them.”

After the capstone gala, seniors and their parents relocated to the auditorium for the awards ceremony.  The ceremony began by honoring scholarships seniors won; for this, representatives from the respective organizations that gave out the scholarship came on stage to talk about why the scholarship recipient earned the grant. The ceremony moved on to honoring senior accomplishments in academics, athletics, volunteer involvement, and a special exhibition of school values by giving out awards. In total, 163 awards were given out. 

The ceremony had a brief intermission for the performance of the song “Home” by Phillip Phillips, sung by seniors Ananya Akula, James Madamba, and Kaia Greene.

The senior awards ceremony acknowledged the accomplishments, talents, and commitment of the class of 2024  throughout the course of their high school career, even as they faced challenges like their first year being held virtually due to COVID. While their teachers read letters informing the audience about the award recipients’ accomplishments and character, it was clear that the effort these seniors put into enriching the school by joining organizations and activities and starting their own clubs made a lasting impact on their school community. 

Gallery • 9 Photos

Rachel Bhardwaj

An impressive total of 163 awards were distributed to seniors and were celebrated and honored on stage at the senior awards ceremony.