Friends, Families, And Supporters Of The Class Of 2025—We Appreciate You

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 16, 2025
- 9:30 am

Signing the walls of The Los Alamos Y Teen Center and scenes from the Past, Present Future punch station. Courtesy photo

Señior Tortas at fuller lodge serving burgers and good vibes. Courtesy photo

LAFD Brought their A-game and LAPD brought steal nerves while riding tipsy carts. Courtesy photo

By VERONIKA MAGNELIND
The Family YMCA
Written on behalf of The Senior Appreciation Night Committee

On May 24, our seniors marked the closure of their high school journey with a night to remember—Senior Appreciation Night 2025. As we gathered to honor the Class of 2025, what shone brightest was not just the joy and energy of our seniors, but the deep well of love and support from this extraordinary community.

This is our fourth Senior Appreciation Night since COVID, and this year’s celebration was something truly special. Parents and caregivers—your teens were outstanding. You’ve raised remarkable young people, and they celebrated responsibly, wholeheartedly, and with the joy that this tradition—now over 40 years strong—deserves. Thank you for raising such compassionate, spirited individuals.

This year brought new challenges, including higher costs due to updated food regulations. But in true community spirit, we adapted—and Señor Tortas stepped up in a big way, catering at the last minute and bringing delicious burgers, chips, drinks, and a laid-back, welcoming vibe. Thank you, Victor and team, for your incredible hard work.

A massive thank you goes to Kiwanis for sponsoring both the breakfast and the fan-favorite Games Night Auction prizes. From mini JBL speakers to a beloved Cow Squishmallow, the bidding wars were wild—and every prize was a hit. Your support brought fun and excitement that our seniors will remember forever.

To The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—thank you for bringing your heart to Betty Ehart Center and making Games Night so engaging. Your energy was contagious, and your presence helped our seniors feel truly celebrated.

We’re also deeply grateful to the DWI Council, whose sponsorship provided essential safety measures—Magic Mirror, Dunk Tank, Midnight Movies, and more. Your commitment to youth safety and joy is inspiring.

LAPD and LAFD—you were a highlight! The tipsy cart course was a hilarious hit, and LAFD’s firefighter challenge was both fun and empowering. Thank you for connecting with our teens in such meaningful ways.

A special thank-you to Samizdat and the STEAM Lab for “Boba and Bots”—a newer tradition that’s already a favorite. The buzz around Boba Tea was real!

Our heartfelt thanks to Los Alamos Transportation for launching the SAN Bus Route, safely transporting teens to every stop—from indoor skating at United Methodist Church to a lively Carnival and Climbing Wall at The Family YMCA. The carnival, powered by Del Norte Credit Union and the Del Norte LOV Foundation, featured Henna, magic, and amazing prizes—thank you for lifting our youth with joy and care.

The Climbing Wall at The Family YMCA welcomed over 300 climbers this year—thank you for helping our seniors literally and figuratively reach new heights.

At the Los Alamos Teen Center, nearly 300 youth joined in, and 183 left their handprints—both literally on the wall and figuratively in our hearts. Thank you, Eli and The Family YMCA Staff. Mesa Public Library provided a reflective and creative sanctuary, complete with childhood books, symbolic releases, and tarot readings—thank you to Melissa and her team for creating such a meaningful space.

Finally, the morning was wrapped with a delicious Kiwanis breakfast, where we celebrated with grand prize drawings and full hearts. The joy was palpable—especially from our TV winner! On her behalf and ours: thank you!

To every donor, every volunteer, every community member, you made this possible. Thank you or caring. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for helping us send our seniors into the world with joy, pride, and love. You are the heart of this tradition, and we are so grateful.

Seniors playing games at Betty Ehart and participating in the Auction for the coveted prizes. Courtesy photo