As the class of 2026 at Camas High School (CHS) anticipates the end of the school year, students begin to reminisce about their core memories from the last four years of their high school careers.
Before the 2023-24 school year, CHS had a program called Freshman Success Academy (FSA), where students were selected to be a part of this program so they could succeed in their first year of high school. Grace Sorensen, a senior at CHS, expressed why she feels so passionate about the program.
“One of my favorite memories from my high school experience would have to be being a part of FSA,” Sorensen said. “It fulfilled its purpose of making the transition to high school easier, but I was also able to build strong bonds with both my classmates and my teachers.”
One of the events that CHS does each year is hold outdoor movie nights, where students can view a fun movie on the grass, eat food, and socialize with friends. Ellison Neill, a senior at CHS, discussed her experience attending this event during her freshman year.
“I loved going to the outdoor movies because it was always so fun getting together with my friends to get snacks, take pictures, and enough blankets to stay warm,” Neill said.
Memories can be made not just from school events, but from fun moments during class. Valeria Piedra, a senior at CHS, mentioned a few of her favorite moments that she had come across throughout the years.
“I have a few favorite memories from high school. One is when Mr. Sawyer did the salsa in class,” Piedra said. “I also enjoyed the senior pranks from last year, where they had a fake wedding and brought their pets into class.”
Some students are enjoying their senior year the most out of all the years they have attended CHS. CHS senior Preston Acosta expressed his excitement about reaching new goals in his senior year.
“I recently just PR’d 10 feet for pole vault, and it has been one of my goals for a very long time, so I am very happy about that,” Acosta said.
Nathan Hoff, a CHS senior, recalls senior sunrise being among his favorite experiences this year.
“I woke up a bit late for senior sunrise, but I was able to make it on time and had a good time, and then went to get breakfast before school at McDonald’s with friends afterwards,” Hoff said. “We also took a ton of photos together when the sun rose.”
Many of the memories students enjoy looking back on are related to school sports. Lilly Zarzana, a senior at CHS, revealed one of her favorite memories from being on the CHS volleyball team.
“A fun memory was winning the Kent tournament in September this year with the [CHS volleyball] team,” Zarzana said.
Stephen Baranowski, CHS athletic director, has watched the CHS class of 2026 grow up for the last six years, including changing positions within the Camas School District (CSD) once the class began their first year at CHS. He shared what it has been like watching this year’s seniors mature over the years.
“I have known these students since their sixth grade year, so it is awesome to see the growth of [the students] into becoming their adult selves,” Baranowski said.
The class of 2026 is looking forward to having an eventful and fulfilling end to the school year.
