Too Cool for School

Seniors Take Their Annual Trip to Universal for Grad Bash

Photo by Kate Bascom / Maclay Andalusian

If you are walking around campus April 30-May 1, you might notice that the halls and classrooms are a little emptier than usual. However, do not be alarmed, because the Class of 2026 is on the road heading to the annual Grad Bash adventure at Universal. Towards the end of the year, seniors are given the opportunity through their school to attend an exclusive, after-hours graduation celebration in the Universal parks. 

Maclay students were excused from their classes on Thursday, April 30, and given the opportunity to get more sleep before they spent the next two days in the park. Gathering at the buses around noon, they started their long journey to Orlando, getting excited to ride rollercoasters with their friends. Traveling in one of Maclay’s buses and a double-decker bus the school rented, the students arrived at Universal around 5:30 p.m. and were immediately granted access to the parks. Running around and joining lines, seniors were granted early access to get a jumpstart on lines before the park opened to every school at 7 p.m. 

Spending hours with friends and wandering around the parks, these seniors had the time of their lives with one last senior event before graduation. At 2 a.m., the park gates finally opened to let students leave and find their buses. Maclay students ran to the buses, and started their long journey back home. At 6:30 a.m. on Friday, they finally made it back to Maclay and were excused from school for the rest of the day to sleep and enjoy a long weekend.