By Claire Newfeld
Every year, Tempe Prep has a tradition: the senior dinner. Usually occurring at the end of April or beginning of May, the event is a special celebration of the graduating class. A few weeks prior to the event, the faculty choose one to three students to toast at the dinner. These students will often be kids they have taught or have gotten to know very well over the course of the students’ tenure at TPA.
The teachers often email parents and ask friends of their chosen student for more information and funny stories. They then write two to three minute speeches about the students and their experiences with them. Finally, they record the speeches as audio files and submit them to Herr Gray.
In turn, the students send in photographs of themselves from early childhood up to the present day, and Herr Gray compiles these photos into a slideshow for each student. He then plays the recording of the teacher’s toast over the slideshow. Students also can submit a 20-second segment of a song they would like to be played at the end of the video.
On April 30, the seniors, their families, and faculty members gathered at the Embassy Suites in Tempe for a special celebration of the graduating class. The event lasted a few hours in the evening, and was enjoyable for all who attended. As people walked to the ballroom, artwork done by the seniors were posted around the hallway. People milled about, hugging their classmates and families and enjoying the artwork. Approximately two to three families sat at one table with one or two faculty members.
Dr. Baum made opening remarks and commented particularly on the sacred nature of the tradition. Shortly after dinner was served, the videos began. There are 56 seniors this year, so it of course took awhile. But many said it was worth it. Teachers related both touching and funny moments for each senior, exposed inside jokes, and wished their students good luck in the future.
Several faculty members have their own style when writing toasts. For example, Dr. Evans writes a poem for each of his students, complete with rhyme and iambic pentameter. One of the favorite toasts of the night was Mr. Calahan’s tribute to Nico Zwemke, set as a parody of the “Lord of the Rings” theme. Overall, each toast was special, and teachers managed to find inspiring things to say about even the most … difficult of students.
Underclassmen, you have a lot to look forward to with the senior dinner. But beware: Anything embarrassing you do from now through your senior year is fair game to go into your toast.