Park City High School seniors are chipping away at their last few weeks of classes and homework assignments as they prepare to board the chairlifts at Deer Valley Resort on June 5 in what may be the school’s most unique graduation ceremony.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize how privileged we are to graduate at a really nice ski resort that people from all around the country fly in to visit,” said Elle Warburton, Class of 2026 president. “I think that’ll be really cool and different, and we’re probably the only class that’ll ever be able to do that.”
Warburton is one of many Student Council members who help plan and coordinate graduation activities in addition to prom, which is open to juniors and seniors. Student Council also works with the district’s elementary schools to facilitate the annual walkthrough of seniors’ alma maters, which is scheduled for June 4.
The Class of 2026 had a different planning process than students in previous years, though. Ongoing construction work on Dozier Field mandated the district shift graduation to another location — the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley — so students have had less discretion than normal.
But the Student Council has still been able to make an impact on the graduating class and administered a survey to seniors asking them to nominate their favorite teacher to read students’ names as they walk across the stage next month. Seniors overwhelmingly nominated Joanna Andres, a social studies teacher who was named the Utah Teacher of the Year, and Debra Alcox, a math teacher who is retiring at the end of the semester.
Grace Squibbs, a Student Council member and the senior vice president, said the Class of 2026 is special because it’s a tight-knit group, which makes their impending separation after graduation bittersweet.
“I’m still best friends with my two best friends from elementary school,” agreed JJ Eggleton, who handles public relations for the Student Council. “We’ve known everyone for so long. I think it’s the people in Park City that I am most grateful for and what I love most about this school.”
Warburton felt similarly, saying that she realized as she was writing her speech for graduation that she could name every student in the Class of 2026 and wouldn’t consider any of her fellow seniors a stranger.
“We’re nestled in the mountains, so it’s different, too,” Squibbs said. “We don’t really hang out with other schools, which can have pluses and minuses, but at the end of the day, it makes us really close with each other and even with our teachers.”
All three students said if they could give advice to incoming freshmen, it would be to get involved and eagerly participate in events, even if it seems cheesy. They said that whether it’s playing a sport, being on Student Council, joining a club or another extracurricular activity, it’s important to find and foster a connection to the school community.
“It’s what you make of it,” Eggleton said. “It’s not about what you do or if you’re the best or if you’re in the most clubs.”
Squibbs agreed with Eggleton and said the hardest part of getting involved is showing up.
“Participating in spirit days, coming to Make-a-Wish events, coming to the movie nights we host, it takes a lot of work on our part, and I do think the hardest part about doing it is getting there,” she said. “Once you’re there, anyone who comes has so much fun. I really encourage people to bring a friend, don’t think they’re too cool, show up in a crazy outfit and have fun.”
Park City High School’s graduation is scheduled for 5 p.m. on June 5.