Inauguration

Jorja's inauguration was tonight. So sad she didn't get to experience this. I remember her telling me that every night before she went to bed she would imagine different SBO's saying her name, to see if she could decide what position 'felt right'. She did that every night. Bode told me that he went to bed every night imagining Jack announcing his name for attorney general. Sad that they didn't get that opportunity. They did have the current SBOs come early and do a mini-swearing in ceremony. We weren't allowed to come and watch though. The night was great! Jorja looked beautiful. (Kelsee did her hair.) It was stress free for us. We were "sitting" next to the Okerlund's and David was running. I was so happy to hear his name called! Cool to be sitting next to his family and see their reaction too.

Current SBOs

Dallen Jepson, Brenton Valentine, Marshall Young, Joe Butler, Sadler Jones, Dawson Lewis

Bode Rockwood, Jorja Smith, Layla Mackey

Side note: Super weird that the school rents tuxedos for the boys, but the girls have to buy their own dresses. I know girls are harder, but really???

Mike and I took the rest of the kids to Shake Shack before heading down to Alta. Maysen and Stockton hadn't seen the renovations. The cafeteria looks so different. The mountains out of the window are just beautiful. Preston is going to be lucky. Preston got the renovated Indian Hills and will get the renovated Alta. The construction at Alta started Jorja's freshman year. It's been a long process...

Layla and Jorja

Mr. Packer announced the SBOs and their escorts. Their escorts were assigned. Riley was assigned to escort Jorja, and she was thrilled about that. It was so sweet. Mr. Packer's voice broke as he was listing Jorja's positions. That happened twice. Jorja and Bode. He loved those two.

Riley & Jorja

They each had a handshake they did when they got on stage.

Lighting the candle

Nick & Kelsee, Sadler & Janelle, Jorja & Riley (we did not realize how much the slit on her dress would show. Whoops.)

The stage. 9 SBOs, 3 cheerleaders and their escorts

Dallin & Giselle, Joe & Aysha, Bode & Ella, Marshall & Kate, Dawson & Grace, Emma & JordyRobs

 Taylor & Ryan, Nate & Kelsey, Sadler & Janelle, Jorja & Riley, Layla & Carson, Brenton & Ellie

It was kind of cool. There weren't enough senior class girls officers to escort all they boy SBOs. They were three short. Well, there were three girl SBOs last year that didn't get the opportunity to participate in their goodbye inauguration, so Packer had Ella, Aysha and Kate come back. Kelsee, a cheerleader from last year, came back to escort Nate.

Brenton and Jorja were having a little conversation up there, but I missed getting a good picture. I love their friendship.

Nate, Jorja, Alex (new SBO historian), Layla, Brenton

Each of the SBOs created a goodbye video based on the ending of a movie. Jorja's turned out so well. She did a parody of La La Land. It was perfect.

Packer introduced Jorja and talked about how amazing she was. He said he didn't think there was another person more capable of pulling off the fundraiser during a pandemic than Jorja Smith. She was amazing. Here is a long video where Packer introduces her, she gives a short speech, she announces Rebecca Russell as the new SBO financial chair and she swears Rebecca in.

Rebecca, Jake, Jorja, Lucas

Taylor & Ryan, Nate & Kelsee, ??? (new chief of activities) Sadler & Janelle, Rebecca (new financial chair) Jorja & Riley,

Alex (new historian) Layla & Carson, Luke (new Vice President) Brenton & Ellie

Just the right side.....

Autumn (new president) Dallin & Giselle, Justice (new secretary) Joe & Aysha, 

??? (new attorney general) Bode & Ella, David (new public relations) Marshall & Kate, ??? (new AVO) Dawson & Grace, Emma & JordyRobs

Jorja (Can you find the hawk pin on her dress?)

I know there's a lot of similar pictures, but this was such an important night for her

Love that smile!

Jorja & Mike

Stephanie, Jorja & Mike

Jizella ~ Giselle, Ella, Jorja

Giselle, Ella, Jorja, Grace

Riley & Jorja

Jorja & Paige a.k.a Mini Jorja

Rebecca & Jorja ~ SBO Financial Chairs

Jorja & Layla

Closing a chapter

She sure loved this experience

Bode & Jorja

She's gonna miss this...

Good thing Jorja has exciting adventures ahead of her! We left Jorja at Alta. Stockton and I came back and brought Jorja the Alta flag she forgot. Tradition is the old SBOs spend the night with the new SBOs doing all sorts of shenanigans. (The school even excuses them on a regular school year.) They go to The Belgian Waffle at midnight. The old SBOs pay for the new ones. So Jorja bought Rebecca's food. Things like that. They ended the night at Brenton's house. All 18 of them. It was a perfect night for Jorja. Except when she was scared silly at The Belgian Waffle by someone threatening to beat her up. All part of the experience...

Even though Jorja didn't get the full experience of being a student body officer because of the pandemic, I'm glad she was able to have what she had. I wish she could have had more. I agree with Packer that there was no one better to do the fundraiser during a pandemic than Jorja Smith. There was a lot of frustrations. A lot of things that were planned that would get taken away from her. But boy did she work on this. I think most people would have just given up, but she made it happen. Kate (and Ellie) will always hold a special place in her heart. I'm so proud of her.