PARISHVILLE — Parishville-Hopkinton Central School visited Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Kennedy Space Center, NASA, Cocoa Beach, and Volcano Bay Water Park prior to their June 23 graduation.

According to Senior Class Advisor Lori White, “Parishville-Hopkinton Central School has not sent a group to Florida in over 34 years. Many of the students had never been on a plane or seen the ocean. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these kids.”

The trip came under some scrutiny this spring as some parents and students felt the trip was not affordable. The senior class, its advisors, and school administration worked to reduce costs after the originally presented price was deemed too high for some families.

Students began fundraising for the senior class trip four years ago when they entered high school.

The class successfully raised $16,100 toward their senior trip over the four years of fundraising. 23 members of the class of 2018 participated in the trip at a cost of $300 to families, thanks to the fundraising efforts, according to BOCES spokesperson Rebekah Grim. This covered all travel expenses including airfare, admission to parks and museums, and meals.

Participating students would like to thank the Parishville-Hopkinton Central School Board of Education and administrators for their support of this trip. They would also like to thank the many community members who supported their fundraising efforts throughout their four years at high school.

“Students experienced a senior trip that was educational, memorable, and fun,” White said. “It took them places that many will likely not have the opportunity to experience again in their lifetime. Through this high school experience, they learned an important life lesson: that goal setting, hard work, and dedication can make dreams come true.”