Senior Sunrise is a tradition that Coronado seniors participate in every year. The morning of their first day of senior year, all members of the class are invited to watch the sunrise together from the Coronado High School parking lot. This year, almost one hundred seniors arrived at 6:00 AM to view the spectacular sunrise.

“Waking up early was difficult, the drive was difficult, and coming back to school was difficult, but it was worth it,” said Cameron Mirhossaini, 12.

Just like the sunrise is representative of a new day, the Senior Sunrise is symbolic of new beginnings, as participants are embarking on their final year of high school. The Class of 2016 gathered in the early hours of the morning, huddled in blankets and clutching warm coffees in an effort to combat the morning chill. Friends chattered as they watched the low lying clouds glow with the red hue of the sun.

“Senior Sunrise was a great way to spend time with friends and to kick off the year on a high-note, all the while watching a beautiful Colorado sunrise,” said Imma Honkanen, 12.

One senior, Megan McCarrie, brought along her camera in order to take a group photo of the attending seniors, which was one of many photos taken that morning. The majority of students took photos of the daylight shining above the city and posted them to Snapchat, Twitter, and multiple other forms of social media.

With almost an hour left before school would begin, many attendees made the decision to go out for breakfast, frequenting places such as Starbucks or Waffle House. Besides enjoying the comforting food these places had to offer, seniors enjoyed the company of their friends, relishing in the memories of summer before they were to begin their final year with one another.

“Seeing how many kids showed up really shows that Coronado’s 2016 seniors have amazing school spirit,” said Kristen Dege, 12.

On the last day of school, seniors will gather one last time to take part in the Senior Sunset, an event that we hope will provide them with more positive memories.