Heritage High School's first senior class prepared to set sail last Friday at the school's end-of-the-year Bon Voyage rally. The Class of the Year, the school's first Teacher of the Year, and the results of the election for next year's All Student Body (ASB) officers were announced as well.

In the days leading up to the rally, students in all grade levels competed in a Class Olympics to earn last-minute points for their class in hopes of winning Class of the Year. The final competition of the Olympics, in which participants tried to knock each other into trash cans, was part of the Bon Voyage rally. The sophomores and juniors won the game, but came up short in their quest to snag the coveted title. After the numbers were counted, the senior class won the title of Class of the Year with nearly 3,000 points accumulated over the school year.

The results of the ASB election were also announced after what rally host Michael Waddington called the most intense election we've ever had at Heritage. Michelle Favalora beat Amaka Ofodu to replace current ASB President Ali Ward next year. Gabi Court claimed the title of vice-president, Sierra Portue was named

treasurer, and Jessica Khalil was voted as ASB secretary.

It's bittersweet to finally hand over the position as ASB president, Ward said after the rally. But I think that Michelle is going to do a good job.

To a roar of applause, math teacher Eileen Favalora was crowned Heritage's first Teacher of the Year. The votes were based on excellence in teaching class, working with students, overall performance.

The most anticipated and most emotional part of the rally was the farewell performance put on by the school's Male Leaders, a group of seniors that choreographs routines and dances to perform at school events. The Male Leaders showcased their talents one last time in an exhilarating routine imitating Michael Jackson and the dance crew Jabbawockeez from the hit TV show America's Best Dance Crew. Their high-flying acrobatic stunts and dance moves earned them a standing ovation from the crowd.

After the cheer-evoking performance, Waddington challenged

Heritage underclassmen to keep the tradition of the Male Leaders alive. In an interview prior to the event, he said, We don't want the Male Leaders to be only something for us that stops once we leave Heritage. We can leave behind our legacy for future senior classes to pick up next year.

Leaving behind a legacy is not just the main goal for the graduating Male Leaders, but for the entire class of 2008 as well. There were no traditions when we first came to Heritage, and we set them in place, said Waddington. Added senior Monique Blot, We can come back in five, 10 years and say, Wow, I started that!'

The Bon Voyage rally also gave the class of 2008 a sense of closure, even if bittersweet. The rally was really

emotional for me, and for my other classmates as well, Ward said wistfully. The last goodbye definitely made my eyes water.