Veronika Magnelind, left, and Amelia Epperson of the YMCA present a briefing on Senior Appreciation Night to the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos. Courtesy/Kiwanis

By BROOKE DAVIS
Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos

At the April 8 meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos, Amelia Epperson and Veronika Magnelind of the YMCA presented a briefing on Senior Appreciation Night (SAN). They discussed the purpose and history of the event, the community support it receives, and the efforts involved in funding and producing it.

To respond to the upsurge of drinking and driving by youth around graduation in the 1970’s and early 80’s, then acting Chief of Police Gary Bequette called on community members and organizations to address the concern and doing an activity that would keep the kids in town.

They responded by creating a compelling and fun evening for the graduates, the first of which was held in 1984.

Today the safe and supervised downtown graduation celebration is known as “Senior Appreciation Night” and is co-chaired by Los Alamos County Recreation Department and the Family YMCA. The County supports the event in the donation of space, staff, and transportation.

The YMCA provides space and is SAN’s fiscal agent. Past supporters of SAN have included public schools, Youth Activity Center, Los Alamos Teen Center, Elks, VFW, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Kiwanis, DWI Planning Council, and numerous churches, individuals, PTOs, and businesses.

SAN is a very large event that takes at least 6 months of planning, fundraising, and organizing.

All Seniors, graduating or not, including those homeschooled are welcome. This year’s event will be May 24 and will include a wide variety of activities, prizes, and (of course) food.

Senior Appreciation Night is a heartfelt celebration to honor the achievements, hard work, and milestones of our graduating students. It is a night to reflect on the memories, friendships, and experiences that have shaped their journey. But beyond the celebration, it’s a reminder of the importance of keeping our students safe, especially on graduation day.