Winter Formal took place on February 28 at the Birch Aquarium. The dance this year definitely felt more organized; there was much more to see and do than at homecoming earlier in the year. As a result, most students tended to enjoy the winter formal more than homecoming. The whole aquarium, except for the penguin exhibit, was open for students to explore during the dance. Sophomore Scarlett Schoonhoven said, “Winter formal was fun because we were able to walk around the entire aquarium, to see all the cool animals, and not be confined to one space. One thing that I wish they included was more hands-on activities with the animals so that we could learn more about them.” Additionally, there was a DJ, a dance floor, a photobooth, and a snack table outside. Junior Victor Franklin said, “I really enjoyed the snack table at Winter formal; they had a big variety of snacks, the DJ was not the best, though. One thing I would want to improve for next year would be a better DJ with better songs.” The aquarium had a wide variety of animals and exhibits throughout the building; there was never an empty area of the space throughout the night. Freshman Sydney Valenzuela said, “I had a fun experience at the dance. My favorite thing was being able to walk through and see all the different exhibits with my friends. I feel like the DJ and the overall vibes could’ve been better.” Overall, most students had an enjoyable time at the Winter formal, and the Birch Aquarium venue definitely contributed to its popularity and success.