While the end of the school year seems very distant for seniors at NASH, the plans and preparations for the last month of high school are underway. One of the most notable events for seniors is the Senior Banquet that is held at the end of May to celebrate the completion of high school. The 2026 Senior Banquet is led and assembled by senior class advisors Mrs. Perry and Mr. Solenday, along with the senior class officers.
The Senior Banquet is held on May 29th this year and promises lively festivities for seniors.
“This is a semi-formal event that includes a dinner cruise and dancing,” Mrs. Perry said in an email sent to seniors on January 5th, “as well as an award ceremony to honor this year’s senior superlatives, a peer-voted award that recognizes unique qualities, personalities, or future potential.”
Perry explained the extensive process of planning the event.
“I coordinate with the Gateway Clipper event manager about a year in advance to secure a boat that fits our senior class and a date that aligns with the seniors’ last day of classes,” she said.
Perry also elaborated on how she distributes the information to seniors.
“In December of the school year, I began promoting the event via NATV, the NASH Newsflash, senior emails, and Instagram (@nashseniorclass),” she said.
Last week, the Senior Class Officers held an early bird sale with a discounted ticket rate of $100.
Kailyn Marunczak, the Publicity Director for the Class of 2026, was among the officers who helped to administer the sale.
“[The sale] gives seniors a chance to get their ticket early for a slightly lower price since the spring for seniors can become costly.”
As many may know, the senior year of high school can be quite expensive. In the spring, regular ticket sale prices will increase to $110.
The Publicity Director also reflected on the work the group puts into the planning.
“We put in a lot of time and effort as a team, such as selling tickets before and after school, to help students with purchasing tickets and to make the banquet a memorable experience for seniors–a night to remember,” Marunczak said.
For Perry, the organizing will continue throughout the second semester.
“In the final weeks leading up to the event, we confirm details, such as the dinner menu and transportation between NASH and downtown, and then enjoy the banquet,” she said.
Perry, who has chaperoned approximately 30 North Allegheny Senior Banquets and has organized 16 of them, is eager to share her feelings about the lasting value of attending the cherished event.
“The Senior Banquet adds a sense of closure and togetherness that’s hard to find anywhere else,” she said. “It’s the last time the entire senior class comes together, not in a classroom or hallway, but on the Gateway Clipper while drifting through the Three Rivers. More than just a party, the Senior Banquet feels like a ‘thank you’ and a farewell all at once.”
