The Accolade Editorial Board voted 17-5 that the Sunny Hills administration created a special senior year for the graduating Class of 2026, considering the novel implementation of a separate Senior Awards Night.
“Congratulations to the Class of 2026!”
Hundreds of caps fly into the air as cheers erupt across the Fullerton Union High School Stadium.
These graduating seniors had to achieve a minimum of 217.5 credits, pass Algebra 1 or equivalent, complete Senior Survey and Financial Aid Form, engage in appropriate behavior and conduct at school and at all SH events until graduation, complete the CPR requirement, return all SH items and pay all fees and fines, according to the Senior Activities Handbook.
For the sweaty teenagers in gowns lined up under the sun, the toss signifies the end of four long years packed with sleepless nights and grueling work. This year, we commend SH administrators for ensuring that the year leading up to this moment was just as meaningful.
For instance, in an email sent by assistant principal Arlie Kearney, the addition of the Senior Awards Night was on Tuesday, May 19, at 6 p.m. It offered a dedicated space in the gym for seniors to be recognized for their hard work and accomplishments, in front of family and friends. While the rest of the school received their awards during the Lancer Awards Night on Wednesday, May 13 in the Performing Arts Center, seniors were granted a separate, special day to accept their Lancer Awards and scholarships.
“We wanted to separate [the seniors] to make it a little bit more of a special night for them and recognize as many as we could,” principal Craig Weinreich said.
After so many years of working towards their graduation, the senior class deserves such recognition. Having a separate event dedicated to the seniors allows them to celebrate and feel seen in their efforts.
Additionally, the annual Senior Breakfast, which will take place on Tuesday, May 26 at 8 a.m. at the Coyote Hills Golf Course, provides seniors with the opportunity to slow down after an undoubtedly hectic year and celebrate together before graduation. Sharing a hot breakfast while watching the senior slideshow gives students the chance to reflect on the shared memories they’ve built since their freshman year.
As a finale, seniors will attend Grad Nite at Disney’s California Adventure on Friday, May 29 — marking the perfect cap to four years of dedication. The students will spend the night riding roller coasters and eating endless churros, creating lasting memories with friends before they part ways. By including experiences like Grad Nite, the SH administration ensured that seniors ended their high school journey on a high note.
While some argue that changes and implementation of new events felt minimal, as the addition of the Senior Awards Night can be considered the only big change, the majority of our editorial board agrees that it’s an effective, steady start, as adding too much from the beginning can cause confusion and disorganization.
As they exit the stadium, the young adults are no longer walking as high school seniors — they move to the next step of their paths. But as they walk on, they will not forget the year that concluded their high school journeys.
And to close this lengthy editorial, we seniors on The Accolade Editorial Board want this to be read as more of a “thank you” letter, rather than a conventional opinion piece. So, thank you, administration, staff and faculty, for making our senior year truly special.
The Accolade Editorial Board is made up of the top editors and section editors on the 2025-2026 staff, with the guidance of adviser CJ D’Innocente. If you have a question about the board’s decision or an issue for the board to discuss and write about, please send an email to [email protected].
