Over the past four years the class of 2025 has faced and conquered many obstacles. Freshman year is an awkward year for any teenager, the class of 2025 had to begin high school in a mask. In February of freshman year, the newly appointed Virginia governor Glen Youngkin passed a law allowing students to remove masks in the classroom.
Basketball player Emma Clark talked about her experience when taking off the mask.
“It was exciting to see what everyone looked like. Since I had met so many people with a mask on, it was different to see their entire face,” said Clark.
Sophomore year was the last full year with the Floyd S. Kay Career and Technical Education building, before the two year renovation process began.
During Junior year, the Matts Creek wildfires canceled school for four days due to bad air quality from smoke. Due to the cancellation of school, the annual Prowler Talent Show was postponed but fall break was extended from its typical three days off of school to over a week.
Magician Liam Courtney-Collins performed his act during the rescheduled show.
“The smoke days gave me more time to prepare my magic act to perfection and perfect more ideas,” Coutney-Collins said.
On the rescheduled date for the show, Courtney-Collins won first place.
Senior year has been filled with fun and accomplishing moments. Spencer Pfaff was able to beat the school record for the 50 yard freestyle by 20.53 seconds.
“ I was really happy when I realized that I had beat the school record for the 50 yard freestyle,” said Pfaff.
Pfaff also won two state titles from swimming.
Senior year also marked the finalization of the vocational center, renamed the Rockbridge Innovation Center. Students gained new access to state of the art equipment.
Engineering student Luke Eversole enjoyed the ability to expand his skills.
“The new Engineering classroom gave us opportunities to grow our skills. I plan on studying engineering in college, and having the new space has allowed me to get a taste of what I’ll experience in college,” Eversole said.
As the seniors’ last school year wraps up, they took part in the long held tradition of a senior prank. This year’s prank was to put live goats in the courtyard.
Senior Clay Irvine brought the goats from his uncle’s farm.
“The idea for the senior prank was to put livestock in the commons. I brought goats and put them in the courtyard for the day. The idea for the goats was to have a live petting zoo to cause distraction,” said Irvine.
The goats stayed in the courtyard for the first four class periods on Monday, April 28.
The past four years have been packed full of so many lifelong memories and friends that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.
