Senior Transitions: Celebrations, Alumni Surprises, Compassion And More

Senior Transitions, Between Celebrations, Surprises, Compassion, Alumni Master Classes, And Alumni Shout Outs and Support:


As our Senior Class of 2020 approached their end of year at CAC, they had no idea that it would be any different from their predecessors. Little did they know that COVID-19 would make their Senior Transitions quite challenging and unique.

While they moved with grace to e-learning at home from March, this did not stop them, as well as CAC alumni and community from celebrating their accomplishments and supporting each other and the community in such meaningful ways. It has definitely been a time filled with celebrations, surprises, and compassion.

First, the CAC alumni relations, along with CAC administration got together to deliver surprise gift bags to each Senior’s door steps to help brighten up their day and let them know that we are thinking of them, miss them on campus, and are celebrating how far they have come, regardless of the challenges. They were quite surprised and extremely touched...many dazed in shock as we woke them up to meet them unannounced!




Then, after Seniors were informed that Prom would be cancelled in light of the Corona times, our Senior Class surprised everyone with a decision to donate their Prom budget to Egyptian families in need that were affected by the pandemic, reflecting the very core value of compassion at CAC. They donated six thousand US dollars ($6000) to the Egyptian Food Bank, ensuring that around 800 families were supported.



We got in touch with experienced alumni that generously agreed to provide our Seniors with Master Class sessions in entrepreneurship and cooking, skills that would help them as they transition to college. Not only were our Seniors enriched with amazing knowledge and experience by our alum Hassan Abdou’87 and Chase Waites’86; they had the chance to engage, ask questions, share CAC memories, network, and make new alumni friends as they join fellow CAC alumni after graduation that were in their shoes before.



Every year in June, at the end of the school year, alumni relations at CAC organizes a Senior Transition Lunch a day before graduation day. This is always the last time our Seniors are in one room together before graduation in a huge lunch banquet. In the gathering, it provides an opportunity to officially induct them into the CAC alumni network, announce our Lifers, let them know how they may stay in touch with CAC over the years, how we will stay in touch with them, what it means to be CAC alumni, and more importantly, that CAC will always be home for them wherever they go, with its doors open to them at anytime.
Not wanting to cancel the tradition in light of Corona, campus closure and home lock down; we held the event “virtually” online. Prior to the virtual event meetup, Seniors were sent lunch vouchers (via e-mail) that they could use to order lunch by phone to their homes. Then, during the event we surprised our Seniors with alumni (Seif Hikal’19, Youssef Shabana19, Hashem Abdou’19, Mazzin Kamel’19, Reem Al Sharif’19, and Malaika Tiglao’18) and teachers attending to congratulate them and share their words of support. Teachers were surprised too as they were not told that they would meet their now alumni students! Moreover, Seniors were informed of a movement on social media that was created just for them by alumni around the world to show their support, love, and solidarity with the CAC Class of 2020. Alumni of all ages around the world posted their Senior photos on social media with heartfelt messages, they sent in messages via email to let them know they care, and they even sent them virtual shout outs as they gathered for virtual reunions around the world. A true expression of CAC Eagle spirit and love around the world.


Photo of alumni, students, and teachers during our online Senior Transitions Lunch




Photo of solidarity messages and Senior year photos sent to Class of 2020 by our alumni around the world