Legacies go back to the very first years of FWPA. Legacies are objects that 10th graders pass down to students in the lower grades that represent something about who they are or have been. This tradition is something that threads all of us together and captures all different types of us in ways.
“Legacies are like the glue that holds FWPA together because it’s something that bonds the school because 10th graders give out their influence to the rest of the school,” Jacob Verbeurgt added, ”It allows a cycle to happen where it encourages the community to become role models.”
Legacies were started by a former FWPA teacher, Mr. Linn. Mr. Klumpenhower explains that Mr. Linn was motivated to start this tradition by the influence of other schools, and wanted to start something that holds FWPA together by letting 10th grade interact with younger grades so they can be remembered long after they have left FWPA. “This is something that happens at a lot of schools, not just FWPA,” Mr. Klumpenhower explained, “This idea goes back to all certain types of prep schools, lasting for many centuries.”
Legacies have been a tradition for over 26 years, but it began to die causing many legacies to be lost at the time when everyone went into quarantine due to COVID. For the past couple of years, the 10th grade class has worked together to create several legacies to start the tradition up again after COVID had happened. some legacies managed to survive COVID such as the Mini-Me, the Toilet Seat, the Bright Future, and the Hogwarts legacy.
These few legacies were able to continue their circulation throughout COVID and continued until The Mini-Me award was passed down from ASB presidents. The Bright Future legacy is a pair of sunglasses and was meant for someone who the previous 10th grader believed would have such a bright future that they would need sunglasses. The Hogwarts legacy is a legacy passed down to someone who had a great love for Harry Potter. The Toilet Seat legacy is passed down to those who are outgoing, light hearted and a remarkable person in a silly way.
“I think legacies are great and it gives a way for students to be recognized on a personal level,” Vanessa Ypersiel confessed, “Rather than just academics or leadership skills, it celebrates all the students at FWPA.”
After 27 years, legacies continue to have a great impact on FWPA. Legacies embody something directly related to every holder, such as how kind they are or a skill that they have worked on. It leaves a piece of a memory to be enjoyed by future students.
