At the end of each year, the graduating class presents the school with a gift to improve campus and show their appreciation for their time at Perry. Graduating seniors feel the need to improve their campuses to mark their appreciation for their time at Perry.  

Some examples of senior gifts are the Puma nation sign, the murals in the hallway as well as the windows being covered by letters. This allowed graduating seniors to give back to their schools as a collective class. STUGO Advisor Lerina Johnson stated, “The senior gift is a gift back to the school and we try to make it something that’s going to beautify the school.” Senior gifts signal students appreciation for their time and memories made whilst at Perry, representing the students giving back to the community that helped create so many memories for them as they grew up. Johnson added, “We try to keep the cost lower than $3,000 for the item, but if it’s something that’s pretty cool and there’s extra money in the budget, it might be something we approve of.” Senior gift take a lot of work and coordination by STUGO as the district has to approve of their item. Senior Harper Mowry explained, “We think very long and hard about what we would like to leave, we try to pick something that’s actually going to make an impact for everyone else.” Currently, STUGO is considering doing something with the patch of dirt in front of the bookstore but is still waiting on admin approval. Mowry added, “This year we wanted to think about a lot of problems around school and try to find something that’s decorative and more useful.” STUGO wants to ensure this year’s senior gift is memorable. Senior Tiffany Nguyen exclaimed, “We know we want something that isn’t small, we want something that’s going to be memorable… right now we are thinking what could be more beneficial to our school and what would brighten the school up.” Through the power of a Senior gift, STUGO is leaving the class of 2025 a mark on campus as they graduate.

On the other hand, senior gifts cost a considerable amount of money that STUGO has to pay. The financial burden will amount to a substantial contribution from the graduating class simply to give something back to the school that they also won’t get to enjoy. Considering senior gifts are given at the end of the year, the seniors oftentimes won’t get to see what their efforts went to as they go off to college. Not to mention the fact that these gifts require immense coordinating efforts for gifts that may not have a great impact on the school. Though other gifts may have a much more significant impact for future students, as seniors seek to leave a lasting impact on their school.

Senior gifts, however, allow students to show gratitude for their teachers, showing their appreciation for staff on campus and cementing their legacy on campus. Senior gifts are ultimately worth it as they allow students to give back to their campus and make it a better place for future students.

Overall, senior gifts allow graduates to graduate knowing they gave back to the school that built them memories throughout their high school years. By giving back to their community, seniors are showing appreciation for their school that will last long after they graduate.