The beginning of February marks one of the most anticipated events of the year for many Nerinx dads. No, it is not Super Bowl Sunday, but rather the annual Nerinx Hall Father-Daughter Dance. This year, Nerinx hosted its 77th Father-Daughter Dance on February 7th at the Renaissance Hotel. The event began at 5:30 with pictures, followed by a night of delicious food, heartwarming speeches, and, of course, endless dancing. During intermission, the Class of 2015 swarmed the stage to dance to the song “All Star” as their proud fathers watched from the crowd and marveled at how quickly their little girls had grown up. The time students spent with their fathers or significant figures at this dance was truly special, especially for the seniors, since this was their last Father-Daughter.

Every year, dinner is followed by a series of speeches from the SLC and SAC Presidents and their fathers. This year, Payton Syberg and Gaby Cervantes both gave speeches, talking about special memories they have shared with their dads. Gaby said, “I’ve been waiting to give a speech since my first father daughter freshmen year. It was such a great experience for my dad and I, and I’m so sad that this was our last one.” Both Mr. Syberg and Mr. Cervantes expressed how proud they were of their girls and how Nerinx has made such a positive impact on each of their lives. After these speeches, Dr. Mary Leopold received this year’s annual Mark of Excellence Award in recognition of her years of service in shaping the lives of Nerinx Hall students. She proceeded to give a condensed version of the history of the universe in seven steps, ending with the note that writing and communication have drawn us all together and helped to maintain traditions such as Father Daughter.

A memorable part of the Father-Daughter Dance for the senior class is when their fathers sing to them. Senior Maya Abrahamian agreed, saying her favorite part of the night was the father serenade and the senior dance. Her father felt the same way.  This year, the fathers sang “Isn’t She Lovely”, and the seniors followed up with “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved By You.” Afterward, the girls scrambled to find and embrace their dads, and the dance floor was filled with their slow waltzing. Dads always comment about how much they cherish these moments. Each year marks the gradual progression of a student’s time at Nerinx. Emma Lohman’s dad notes one of his favorite memories was “Emma’s Freshman year. We were standing by the dance floor watching the first dance (seniors and dads). When it was over, many of them left the floor, leaving it practically empty. Everyone was looking at each other, wondering who would go out first. Emma looked at me and said, ‘Let’s go!’ We danced alone for a bit and then gradually the floor filled up. It was a glimpse of the leadership Nerinx would help her develop.” Regardless of when or how, each Nerinx girl and her father has made memories at the dance.

Some girls have been going to Father-Daughter Dances since grade school. For Rebecca Marcolina and many other seniors, her last Father-Daughter Dance was nostalgic. She said, “This year’s father daughter was really bittersweet for Dad and me. We’ve been going to these since I was four years old, and it’s unreal that the tradition is coming to an end…. We always have a lot of fun making fools of ourselves on the dance floor, but I have to say that my favorite part about this year happened when we got home. Dad and I have a special song, Chicago’s ‘Color My World’, and this year to surprise him, I downloaded it to my phone and asked him for one last dance with me. So, around 1:30 in the morning, Dad and I danced around my kitchen, and it was honestly the perfect way to end a legacy that has been one of the highlights of every one of my years at school.”

We hope all Nerinx girls and dads are able to bring a little bit of the dance home with them like Rebecca was. Underclassmen should strongly consider going next year because it is a night to build unforgettable memories. As was said in countless speeches throughout the night, “Your dad is the best date you could ever bring to a dance.” How unbelievably true this is, and how grateful the Class of 2015 is for having been able to spend these last four dances with them.