Great Hearts Seniors Reflect on their Senior Trips to Washington D.C.

Great Hearts Academies April 2, 2025 -

Spring at Great Hearts is a season of exciting milestones for seniors, including the highly anticipated Senior Trip to Washington, D.C. This travel experience with their classmates provides students with the opportunity to explore the nation’s capital and experience firsthand the historical landmarks that have shaped the ideals of our country.

The trip serves as a capstone experience, reinforcing the virtues they have studied throughout their time at Great Hearts while deepening their relationships with one another before venturing off into their own life experiences after high school graduation. Here is just a sample of what our seniors and faculty from some of our schools had to say.

As Max, a senior from Cicero Prep, reflected on his recent trip, he shared, “Going to D.C. with my class was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To see the history of our country, the contemporary embodiment of the traditions that we have spent the past years studying, and all this surrounded by friends made for an incredible journey. I will always hold the memories made in our nation’s capital.”

For Luke Moreno, a senior at Lincoln Prep, the highlight was appreciating the beauty he found in the historic art. “The best experience of D.C., for me at least, had to be getting to visit the National Art Gallery,” he shared. “Being able to walk the halls and recognize so many paintings from many different artists across many different cultures, eras, and backgrounds, really made me appreciate the education I’ve been given, and the impact art can make on the world.”

Another Lincoln Prep senior, Marty Alegre, appreciated the shared experience just as much as the sites themselves. “I feel so lucky to have enjoyed such a fun and memorable trip with the entirety of my senior class,” said Alegre. “Whether it was the historical monuments, food, or just time to spend with one another, D.C. was such a great takeaway for our last trip together.”

That sentiment was echoed by Great Hearts Anthem senior, Grant Meyers. “The senior trip to D.C. strengthened my friendships through shared experiences as we explored iconic landmarks together and deepened my appreciation for U.S. History by bringing our history lessons to life,” said Meyers. “From going to the Smithsonian museums to being in the White House, I strongly encourage every student to be a part of such an experience.”

“The trip overall was fun. It was a lot of walking, but it was worth it—seeing buildings and monuments that were there from before we were born. I’ll remember it for a long time, being able to have this experience with my friends,” shared Veritas Prep senior Kevin Castañeda. But what made the trip really memorable for him was an opportunity most visitors will never have. “Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a unique experience,” he recalled about the almost surreal moment. “I was congratulated by the soldiers afterwards because they knew I was joining the military.”

Trivium Prep also had the rare honor of participating in the wreath ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder during their trip.

“The Senior Trip was truly a summary of all my years at Trivium,” shared senior Adison Mendoza. “Standing in some of the most important places in our history and experiencing the emotions that come with it was truly amazing. Experiencing all of it with friends and classmates brought us all closer. I can truly say the trip made us all friends and ready to finish our last months of high school together as a cohesive group.”

Another Trivium Prep senior, Molly Keogh, said she is thankful for the experience that the senior trip gave her. “It was such a beautiful experience getting to bond with all of my peers.”

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. with my school. I was able to spend time with my peers and friends and learn about US History and myself,” explained Gavin Lopez, also a senior at Trivium Prep. “Visiting all the monuments and museums was fun and informative. I feel I will never be the same after these experiences.”

From standing before the nation’s most iconic landmarks to exploring world-class museums, the trip offered seniors at Arete Prep a deeper understanding of the lessons they’ve studied in class. Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Brad Vaughn, Humane Letters II and Geometry teacher, shared, “What a great trip! For many students, the world just grew a lot bigger, and their studies came to life.”

“Learning about the rich history of D.C. and the surrounding areas while spending a lot of time with my friends around the city made this trip well worth the cost and travel time,” shared Brendan, a senior at Chandler Prep. “My favorite part was visiting the National Gallery of Art. It was an amazing museum. I have many good memories from this trip, and it is something I will remember for a long time.”

“You need both the textbook and the experience to fully understand it,” said Glendale Prep History Teacher Jeremy Kratz, explaining the importance of hands-on learning.

Glendale Prep senior Aravis Molitor agreed with this idea, noting, “It’s one thing to learn about history in a textbook, but it’s another thing to experience it in person with your peers.”

“Visiting the Holocaust Museum was powerful, especially learning about Anne Frank in 7th grade, deeply impacted me by both realizing how fortunate I am and teaching me the importance of gratitude, empathy, and virtue, shared Bridgette Luna Granillo, a senior at Maryvale Prep. “Exploring the other museums also filled me with appreciation, as I recognized that this might be a rare opportunity to experience such a trip surrounded by the people who shaped me.”

Maryvale Prep senior Edwin Muñoz Mendoza shared how impactful the trip was to him. “Getting the opportunity to visit the nation’s capital was an amazing experience. There is so much valuable history, and it should be shared with many generations to come,” he said. “Getting to see some of the most famous monuments in the world was a beautiful and memorable experience.”

While each academy’s itinerary was a little different based on class size and travel dates, every senior and teacher had a similar experience. What they learned in the classroom became even more real through hands-on experiences with their classmates, making history more meaningful and memorable. This long-standing tradition at Great Hearts will continue to be an impactful capstone experience for our seniors for many years to come.

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.