By Annette Aucamp & Anna-Carolina Knapp

Granada Hills Charter (GHC) has long been known as a community high school. Even with its large student population of around 5,000, the school feels like a community where each graduating class bonds over their time together at GHC. 

With seniors rounding out their last year at GHC, comes the time of the year to recognize some of their peers. 

The Tartan Yearbook staff arranges the senior superlatives which highlight student achievements and personalities. Senior superlatives give seniors a chance to recognize peers for their unique and memorable qualities. These include the Best Duo, Social Butterfly, High School Sweethearts, Best Eyes, Best Smile, Most Athletic, Best to Bring Home to your Parents, and so many more.

“Every year we look through past year’s yearbooks and see what has been done many times,” senior and Tartan Yearbook People’s Editor Hrach Nersisyan said. “Then, we remove those and replace them with new and more creative ones.”

Being elected as the recipient of a senior superlative, or even just running for one, gives seniors the ability to reflect on their time at GHC and acknowledge the presence they’ve had at GHC over the last four years.

“I think my eyes are one of my best qualities, and I want people to remember me for them,” said senior running for best eyes, Katelyn Gruber.

However, due to the substantial number of students who are a part of the graduating class of 2024, students who possess distinctive qualities may not be elected simply because they aren’t well-known within their class. 

“Senior superlatives is like a popularity contest,” senior Ashkan Ghaffari said. “People who are more popular get more votes than those who are not.”

 In one way, this is true because those who are well-known in their graduating class have an increased chance of getting the most votes, and therefore winning the battle for a superlative title. However, since the election process of senior superlatives is designed for the candidate with the most votes to win, it is an unavoidable fact that those who are well-known within their culminating class will have an elevated chance of earning the title of a senior superlative.

Senior superlatives supply an occasion for which seniors recognize their peers for the fun and noteworthy attributes they possess. Some may view it as a popularity contest, but at the end of the day, it provides a chance for the graduating class to reflect upon the relationships and memories they’ve made together.