By On March 20, Carroll College held its annual Junior Senior Night to celebrate the seniors and pass the torch to our juniors.
This formal banquet had friends, roommates, and peers dressed in their best at the Great Northern Ballroom in the Great Northern Hotel.
“It was so much fun to see everyone all dressed up. You could just tell that people were excited to be there,” said a junior Carroll student who has chosen to stay anonymous. “Everyone’s energy there was just so high.”
The night kicked off with a pre-dinner social where students waited in line to redeem their one free drink and mingled with peers while Jazz music filled the air.
When everyone was settled in, seniors Jack Conway, Maria Ackerman and Olivia Wildes shared their favorite memories from their time at Carroll – including eating at the STAC and sledding on Guad Hill.
Following the speech, the juniors took a pledge to accept their senior responsibilities, including looking after the underclassmen – and Guad’s new residents, the class of 2030. The juniors pledged to be guides, role models, and friends to those in need.
The night continued with a formal dinner that included rolls to start, a side salad, and the choice between a baseball cut top sirloin, lemon herb salmon, or pasta primavera. The night ended with a flourless chocolate tort.
When the socializing and the event ended, the students continued some unofficial traditions afterwards. Every year after Junior Senior, the attendees take off to visit Helena’s local bars, including Miller’s and Gold’s.
Some students stay in their formal attire, and others change into a new outfit. Either way, the fun stays the same.
“My favorite part of the night was going out afterwards with all of my friends,” said Brandon Bliss, a junior double major in finance and psychology from Great Falls. “No one outside of Carroll really knew what was happening with everybody dressed up, so we got the opportunity to talk to strangers and hear some of their stories about their lives.”
Junior Senior is an event where juniors can show their gratitude to the graduating seniors and then step into the large shoes that are being left behind.
