New memory unlocked for our MAST seniors: Gradbash

Mercedes Halliburton, Managing Editor

April 20, 2024

Park view from VelociCoaster line.

MAST seniors and their teachers hit Universal’s Studios and Islands of Adventure at around 5:30 pm last Friday, Apr. 19.

Arriving an hour after their ETA due to mechanical complications in bus 2, students were restless and ready to enter the park as soon as they saw the WELCOME GRADUATES sign.

Seniors leave MAST and start their trip towards Orlando! (Senior, Candelaria Aramburu)

Bus 2 stopped on the side of the road seven times due to mechanical problems. (Senior, Samantha Ponce)

Seniors wait to be cleared at security before entering the park. (Senior, Isabelle Merseguel)

At 6 pm the park closed for all pass holders who were not wearing the green GRADBASH wristband, and seniors were able to take over.

Despite ride wait times being 45-120+ minutes (the highest wait times being for the VelociCoaster, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, and Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure), adrenaline kept everyone in the park moving until it closed at 2am.

Story continues below advertisement

Seniors in line for the VelociCoaster. (Senior, Antonio Roca)

At 2 am the park closed and hundreds of students and chaperones were escorted out of Universal Studios to their buses.

Around 6:30 am, seniors were dropped off at MAST and GradBash 24′ was complete.

Donate to The Beacon

Your donation will support the student journalists of MAST Academy. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributor

Mercedes Halliburton, Managing Editor

Mercedes Halliburton is a senior at MAST Academy. She is in her fourth year at the school, arriving in 2019 from St. Theresa Catholic School. Halliburton enjoys MAST more than her previous school because she believes that there is more freedom. Halliburton likes MAST because she enjoys swimming and water. She also enjoys reading and writing, saying that it is her favorite subject. Her least favorite subject is math, and her hardest year was junior year. She doesn’t have a least favorite teacher and she likes most of the teachers. She also likes MAST because it has a nice view and is so close to the beach. Even though MAST is fun, Halliburton claims it is also a challenging school with many hard classes.