Niwot High School seniors' last hurrah for 2024

Niwot High School seniors' last day of school, May 15, was marked with camaraderie, in sharp contrast to the COVID-induced isolation of their freshman year.

The Senior Car Parade, organized with assistance from the NHS Booster Club, began in 2020 when seniors were unable to enjoy the traditional end-of-year experiences and celebrations such as prom, awards nights, concerts, and group graduations due to the pandemic.

The car parade allowed the community to recognize and celebrate Niwot's seniors and their accomplishments during a time when it was impossible to celebrate traditionally. Families could socially distance and still cheer on those students.

The 2020 parade was such a success that the tradition continued. For four years the NHS Senior Car Parade has made its way from the high school down Niwot Road and along 2nd Avenue, allowing families, local residents, friends, and businesses to cheer on our accomplished students. The traditional graduation ceremony will be on Saturday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at Niwot High School.

This year's parade was well attended by senior participants with lines of vehicles and crowds of onlookers around Cottonwood Square Shopping Center, but the celebration didn't end there. The car parade was followed by the Senior Sunset event on the football field to keep the good times rolling after students completed their last day of high school ever.

The Senior Sunset serves as a big party for the seniors who get to play games, eat food, and have fun spending time with their classmates before formally graduating and going their separate ways. Games included many of the classics such as cornhole, giant Connect-Four, and an unusually large version of a game involving two teams throwing balls into red solo cups.

Despite the isolation of their ninth-grade year, or perhaps because of it, teachers and administrators have noted that these graduating seniors have formed an immensely close bond with great dedication in everything they do.