Two seniors open up about what the opportunity means for them
By Aster Gardner
Although Haas Hall Academy focuses on test scores and academics, many students manage to find ways to express themselves artistically. Haas Rogers’ class of 2025 received permission from former headmaster Bethany Culpepper to paint their own parking spots after the school moved locations, an agreement that carried over to the school’s current seniors, the class of 2026. In the fall semester of 2025, these seniors gathered together on a Saturday morning to share donuts, Gatorade, music, and laughter as they each painted their own unique parking spots.
Painting a parking spot serves as a way for seniors to be able to display their passions to the school and leave something all their own. “It’s just a nice thing for seniors to be able to do. To be able to claim a spot as theirs, every single day be represented on campus,” Gray Love stated in an interview. Love painted an assortment of items from her life on her spot, including a basketball, lacrosse sticks, Irish dance shoes, and a trinity knot. She explained her choices represented her participation in those sports and her Irish heritage. It was a way for Love to express what she is passionate about in her life and to represent herself in an otherwise academic-focused school.
While the experience was certainly important for students who desired to make their mark on the school and show what they’re all about, it was also a unique social opportunity for these seniors. “It was actually really fun,” Love expressed. “I brought my friend Elizabeth from dance to help me with it. It was a whole bonding experience.” Many seniors enjoyed having the opportunity to come together with their classmates and help each other paint, despite the heat. “It was really hot outside. So… heavy duty black pants were pretty tough,” senior Mia Bontrager said. Love agreed with this sentiment: “I got sunburned.”
It wasn’t all about fun and self expression for every senior, though. Bontrager holds a different perspective. Her parking spot belonged to a scholar from the class of 2025 who she was very close with. “My spot was actually originally her design, which was just clouds on a blue sky with her initials. I wanted to preserve that and put my own spin on it by adding dragons. I added my initials under hers and cleaned up the faded parts.” Bontrager’s painting experience was far more driven by an appreciation for her friend’s influence on her rather than expressing her own creativity. “I wanted to preserve what she did,” Bontrager said, “especially because she made a really big impact on my life.”
Even though being able to paint their parking spaces meant very different things for each of them, both Love and Bontrager agree that it’s a significant experience that they would love to see become a Haas Hall Academy Rogers tradition. “I think they should continue doing that every year for all the seniors,” Gray voiced. “I hope next year the same tradition might be passed on,” Bontrager agreed. Painting parking spaces is undoubtedly a significant experience for the seniors here, and there are still many more scholars to follow in their footsteps.
