For the past two weeks, seniors have been carrying on the SDA end-of-the-year tradition that has lasted generations: senior tiles.

Heaps of artistically eager seniors piled in the wrestling room of the gymnasium on CAASPP testing late-start days, filling in the mosaics of a soon-to-be showpiece while underclassmen fill in the bubbles of their standardized tests.

This year, with the compilation of tiles planned to be laid out near the PAC, the overall picture will depict a vibrant setting sun, in representation of both the seniors’ closing time at SDA and the beautiful memories that they have made there.

Senior Maxine Richter came up with the design and created the overarching outline for the big picture, along with the help of some other students.

Senior Mari Harnish, another one of these helpers, said, “We were expecting around 50 people to show up on the first day, but instead there was a turnout of around 300. It was really exciting to see everybody participating and bonding over it.”

Although there is a simple outline guiding the image, as well as a plan to balance cooler colors on the outside and warmer colors on the inside in order to convey the setting sun, there is no telling what the seniors will come up with for their individual tiles, their last mark to leave on campus, and last message to share with the school.

Sophie Henry said, “I know one thing for sure: there will be a lot to find in this year’s senior tiles. You’ll just have to go and look.”