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  • Class of 2007 impresses Board members with participation numbers for Senior Trek


By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent

It was an historic moment&emdash;Leon Pexton, board president, voted to allow the Senior Class to visit California at graduation time next May.

Senior Class officers, Justin Reynoso, Wes Bills and Megan Richards, met with the board to request permission to make the trip.

"They have the most seniors who have signed up of any class in the past for this time of the year," said Derrin Owens, class advisor.

Sixty-two of the 134 seniors have already paid deposits. The first installment was to have been paid by the time the officers met with the board so that the officers could report on the possibility of meeting the board's established criteria that 80 percent of the class participate.

"No other class has had this many students sign up this soon," said Owens.

Officers reported that several others had indicated that they wanted to attend and that they planned on paying regular deposits but they had not raised the necessary funds as yet. However, they expected to do so.

Last year, said Owens, was the first year that anyone had been turned away. That had happened with some who had decided toward the end that they would like to go. However, approximately 80 students are needed to fill two buses. It does not pay to take a bus for just a few students.

"We like to have the buses full," said Owens.

The intent of the trip, said Pexton, is to be inclusive of all seniors. In addition, all students who participate must be on track to graduate. They must also agree to the student behavior standards required in the past.

"Historically, the board has required a certain participation rate because the intent of the activity is that it is a senior class activity and, as such, should have a high percentage of seniors participating."

Stacy Brooks, board member, said the issue was whether it was more important to stick with a set student participation rate or to consider the economic feasibility of travel costs.

One bus holds only a certain number of students. If that bus is full, should a second bus be taken just to accommodate a few students? she asked.

That was not economically wise.

However, it seemed that would be a moot question with this class.

Owens said that with the number of students already participating, it would only improve from that point, in his estimation.

Last year, said Owens, the Utah Highway Patrol gave the class $500 from a fund designed to assist those working to keep senior class graduates off of the highways on graduation night.

"We had 82 who went last year and the money pretty well paid for our pizza party," he said. "We had 45 pizzas and 100 drinks."

In addition, he said, the class, as usual, had the drug dogs sniff their luggage and other items prior to the trip.

As for his historic vote, said Pexton, it was earned by this class.

"I voted in the affirmative because this class have the requisite number of students needed to make the request," said Pexton.