Senior girls attend 80th Annual Senior Tea

For 80 years, senior girls at Tippecanoe High School have gathered for the annual senior tea.

This year’s version, a special 80th anniversary celebration, was held May 23 at Tipp Center with Tipp City’s Liz Ball as the featured speaker. In a reflection of the times, this year’s theme was Barbie. The girls participated in a Barbie-themed trivia contest, had the opportunity to take selfies in a Barbie-themed studio and gathered after the tea for a group photo.

Retiring teacher Kim O’Brien read a children’s book for the girls.

"It is amazing it has lasted 80 years and we have had women in this town who have kept this tradition,” said Tania Smith of Community Minded Women. “This day is always special for the Community Minded Women.”

Each girl can be joined by a parent, guardian or other supporter for the tea.

The first tea was held in the backyard of a First Street residence of the district’s then-superintendent, said Tania Smith of Community Minded Women. That year, there were 18 senior girls. Over the years, the tea has been hosted by the local civic club and then the Community Minded Women, a non-profit organization.

Liz Ball is a local artist who draws the Hidden Picture Puzzles that appear in newspapers and have also been published in more than a dozen Hidden Treasure books. Ball said she was planning to major in biology as she headed off the college but when she took a mechanical drawing class, she found a whole new interest. She drew a puzzle as she talked with the girls.

The most satisfying part of her work is probably the letters she receives from people who have used the puzzles to help in recovery from strokes and while dealing with Alzheimer’s. “I wish all of you the best of luck. I am sure you will succeed at what you do and just enjoy what you do,” Ball said.

“We wish you the very best. Remember to keep moving forward in all the chapters of your life,” said Nici McClurg of the Community Minded Women.

Community Minded Women coordinate a variety of projects to support the community including the Safety City program for children.

Note: Check out next week’s paper for a feature on the senior boys luncheon.