Nora Aslam

 Before they turn their tassels at graduation, the Marriotts Ridge High School seniors cracked some shells. On September 22nd, the class of 2027 gathered together in the lunchroom for the annual Senior Crab Feast, celebrating the start of their final year. By enjoying crabs and conversation, students connected with their classmates beyond the classroom. 

   Students arrived to the lunchroom in their crab feast shirts, feeling pumped up for the feast. Tables were filled with lots of crabs, seafood mallets, pizza, and many other dishes to dine on. The smell of the Old Bay seasoning and the steamed crabs instantly hit students, and everyone was unified by sticky seasoned hands, and the shared struggle of extracting the perfect lump of crab meat to enjoy.

   “The crabs were definitely flavorful and very delicious. They had to be the best dish of the event,” senior Wendell Stepp III stated.  

    Between each bite, classmates exchanged updates on their college applications, homecoming plans, classes, and overall life. The buzz of conversation had created a lively atmosphere as the seniors shared food, posed for photos, and caught up with their friends. The gathering gave students a chance to enjoy time with friends as they navigated the beginning of their final year.   

   “Throughout the entirety of crab feast, everybody was very social, ate a lot of crabs, and had a very enjoyable time. This will certainly be a senior event to never forget,” Stepp said.

   Behind the crab feast was the senior class council’s dedication to bringing the event together. Members devoted substantial time to planning, and working through the details of the feast long before the beginning of the school year. Their efforts helped to turn the plans into a gathering where the seniors could hang out with friends, eat crabs, and celebrate their final year together. 

   “There was a lot of intense planning and work that had to be done in order to ensure that the senior class had a memorable night. The date had to be set, the shirts needed to be designed and delivered, the invitation forms had to be sent out, and the right caterer needed to be hired to serve the students. In the end, the class council was extremely proud to see everyone hanging out with each other, having fun, and eating a lot of crabs,” Class council ‘27 President Sophia Shaw stated.

   The crab feast concluded with students posing for pictures with their fellow classmates on social media so they can reflect on a memorable night. Everyone left the building feeling stuffed, and quite pleased with their crab feast, and were eager to see what else would unfold for the remainder of their senior year of high school. The class of 2027 had marked the beginning of its final chapter at Marriotts Ridge, one shared meal at a time.