A new tradition at Lake Region High has seniors up before dawn | Column

Lake Region High School Seniors Gather at Dawn for “Senior Sunrise” Tradition

NAPLES, Maine – On the morning of September 2, 2026, about seventy seniors from Lake Region High School in Naples slipped quietly onto the football field, wrapped in sweatpants and flannel pajamas, to witness a sunrise that will become a cherished memory for the class of 2027. The event, called “Senior Sunrise,” is a growing tradition that has become a cornerstone of the school’s summer‑break culture, giving students a chance to reconnect before the new school year begins.

Early‑Morning Arrival

The first vehicles began rolling into the school parking lot around 5:30 a.m., stopping behind the bleachers along the football field. Parents and teachers were already setting up a spread of punch bowls filled with fruit, boxes of doughnuts, and a few potluck items that had been donated by local businesses. “It was pretty wild seeing everyone show up, but it felt good,” said classmate Jordyn Green, who set up a blanket on the track and then settled in to watch the sky light up. “My roosters crow at 4.” Her comment was a light‑hearted reminder of the early hour that was required.

Many seniors arrived with plastic cups from Aroma Joe’s, a local coffee chain, and carried bright‑colored beverages to share. The early‑morning buzz was punctuated by the chatter of friends reuniting after a summer when the rural school district’s towns—Naples, Casco, and Bridgton—often kept classmates apart.

The Roots of a Growing Tradition

The “Senior Sunrise” concept began only a couple of years ago. It is said that the idea may have been inspired by a TikTok trend, but it quickly took root in the Lake Region community. The teachers, who first observed the trend, now see it as a way to foster school spirit and camaraderie. “It’s something that students get excited about, and it gives us a chance to celebrate them as a community,” said art teacher and senior class adviser Ian Carlson. “My sons asked me to drive through the parking lot so they could see all the artwork that the seniors had painted.” The parking spaces had been transformed with designs and quotes that the students had been planning for months, adding a creative backdrop to the sunrise.

Planning Ahead for the Senior Year

Beyond the morning gathering, the seniors are already thinking about what will make their final year memorable. “Soon, we’ll have homecoming with a bonfire and pep rally, and then a Senior Sunset on a nearby hill,” Carlson said. “I’ll meet with the class of 2027 soon to brainstorm more events that get everyone involved.”

Some seniors are already making concrete plans. Macey Serfes and Ryan Charette, who have dated on and off since middle school, are set to move to Louisiana and Mississippi, respectively, before the year ends. Charette has secured a job staging concerts through a friend, while Serfes intends to study social work. Sid Young, who spent his summer at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, plans to pursue filmmaking in California after graduation. Riley Boutilier, along with two friends, will relocate to Texas to join their boyfriends who have already graduated. “I’m glad to be leaving my small town, but I know I’ll miss it,” Boutilier told reporters.

Capturing the Moment in a Digital Age

With the new statewide cellphone ban looming for the upcoming school year, the seniors took to digital cameras to capture the sunrise. “It’s hard to explain why we prefer these over phones, but the ban makes us think about how we’ll record our lives differently,” said one student. The group took several photos together before splitting into smaller circles and eventually dispersing to individual plans.

A Cloudy Finale

Although the students had hoped to watch the sun rise, clouds rolled in early, and the sun never actually peeked over the horizon. Sid Young, a self‑declared film aficionado who rarely attends school events, was nonetheless “giddy” and pointed to the pink and orange hues. “This is great. Look at this!” he exclaimed. As the clouds thickened, the seniors began to pack up. Some agreed to meet at friends’ houses later that day; others opted to return to their beds.

The event, though ending with a missed sunrise, left the students with a shared sense of community and anticipation for the year ahead. “It felt good to see everyone together, even if the sun didn’t show up,” one senior remarked. “We’ll definitely remember this moment.”