On Wednesday, May 8, graduating seniors gathered around at Memorial Stadium to watch the sunrise, wore shirts and hoodies representing the colleges they will be attending in the fall, as well as pajama pants, and sharing their favorite memories of what they had accomplished in their high school career on their last day at West Chicago Community High School.

Many senior students attended this event where they brought blankets and lawn chairs as encouraged by the WEGO Pep Club on Instagram. Starting at 5:30 a.m., students hung out, and shared some of their favorite high school memories with friends, all while playing yard games like spikeball, football, or volleyball, or just watching the sunrise.

Other traditional events followed the sunrise later in the day, including a paper toss after third period and a barbecue following where seniors could pick up yard signs and eat food.

“I think this tradition is really nice because you get to cherish memories with new people you met in high school, and friends you’ve known your whole life,” senior Brandon R. Heath said.

The senior sunrise is a tradition that was started over a decade ago and is celebrated across the United States at many different schools. This tradition is either hosted at the beginning of the year to start their final year together or at the end of the school year to cherish all the memories they shared.

“Most schools have their senior sunrise on the first day of their senior year, but I feel as if it’s better on the last day because it’s almost like a celebration for all the accomplishments throughout our high school career,” senior Tyler Heath said.

Students were also highly encouraged to bring all sorts of breakfast foods and drinks with them like bagels, coffee and donuts. Kindred Coffee and Cocoa Notes, local bake shops that provided coffee and sausage breakfast sandwiches during this event for all students.

“This sandwich is scrumptious,” senior Dominic Cicero said.

Students also thought highly of this event and the coordination with WEGO activities and Pep Club leader Elizabeth Mastroianni.

“I had a really awesome time this morning and really felt like it was an amazing way to close out such an important chapter in our lives with the people who made it so great. Although sad it was definitely a nice reminder of how lucky I am to have something in my life worth missing so much, that thing is WEGO,” senior Sophia Spinelli said.