The Long and Short of It: Banquet Season

 

Come April/May, every single team, club, organization, and extracurricular in existence hosts a banquet, end-of-the-year celebration, or awards ceremony. Yes, every single one. 

Some years you feel like you can skip a handful of them, but - spoiler alert - senior year is not one of those years. 

Here are a few highlights of our exhausting but heartwarming season of saying goodbye.

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The Lads banquet was probably my favorite this year, in part because this group of boys and their gaffer mean so much to me, and in part because - with a great committee by my side - I made this one happen. It was A LOT of work, but in the end this banquet was exactly what I wanted for Will, his fellow seniors, and his departing coach's last year.

I make him take a selfie with me at every event. 

Lads Mamas

 

Region/State Awards

The captains collectively served as emcees for
the event, and they did a great job. I was surprised
to learn that Will has a knack for public speaking.

Varsity

I've worked "for" and alongside Coach Southern for four years.
I'll miss watching him love this sport and these boys with every
ounce of his being, and (I think) he'll miss me texting and emailing
him reminders to do stuff ASAP because "we're down to the wire."

Seniors

Academic All State Awards

Conference Awards 

These five seniors made varsity together as freshman. So grateful for
their growth as players, teammates, and friends these last four years.

Team Awards

Tom getting a well-deserved shout out for keeping
all of the Lads fans "matraca-ed" for the last three years.

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Same sport, different banquet... Will's last Cavalry banquet was relaxing compared to the Lads banquet - all I had to do was show up, chat with friends, eat, and clap for my senior. 

Another night, another selfie.

Seniors

Kind of hard to see, but
this was Will's senior slide.

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Next up, the orchestra banquet! When Will started playing the cello in the fifth grade, I had no idea he'd end up sticking with it throughout the remainder of his middle and high school years. After seven truly enjoyable years, this eighth and final year proved a bit challenging for Will; he'd had great relationships with his intermediate, middle, and high school directors, and when his high school director retired after Will's junior year, a new director was hired. He struggled to find his place in the new system under a new director, but at the end of the day he loved making music with his friends for one final year.

Selfie #3 - he was getting tired of me asking at this point.

Receiving his senior gift from his director.

With a few of his friends.

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Senior Awards

He was probably trying to run away from me at this
point, which is likely why the picture is a little blurry.

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Tiger Awards (awards ceremony for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors)

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CSISD Scholarship Night

Didn't need a selfie, thanks to Vacanva Photography...

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Missing in action - or at least in terms of photos - are Will's end of the year orchestra concert, Hallie's end of the year choir concert, the Strutters Showcase, and the choir banquet. We were particularly sad to miss the choir banquet (we'd made a commitment to a dance photo shoot before the banquet date was set), especially because Hallie received a "Sophomore of the Year" award, but hopefully we'll be able to attend next year.

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Cheers to surviving a great banquet season!