Interact Club students cut flower pedals to apply to the Rotary Rose Parade float.

On Dec. 17, eight Burroughs Interact Club students went to Phoenix Decorating Co. in Irwindale, California, to work on the Rotary Rose Parade float. They were joined by other Interactors from different schools, as well as Rotarians.

The float, a carousel pony themed “Serving with Inspiration and Hope,” appeared 69th in the line of the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

The students who participated enjoyed working on the float and meeting new people.

Junior Madison Ray said, “My experience was amazing! Everyone there was so friendly and it was fun getting to know other members as we all worked together.”

Everyone worked hard to make progress on the float; some were cutting flower petals and applying them to the float to add color, while others were filling up vials with water to put the roses in.

“I had fun decorating the float,” said junior Roger Delarea. “I was working on almost every task, but I primarily worked on applying the crushed petals onto the foam flowers that were in front of the float.”

With everyone’s diligence, the Rotary float won the Princess award, which is given to the most outstanding floral presentation among the float entries that were 35 feet and under in length.

“I think it’s amazing that the Rotary float won the Princess award,” said Interact Club President Mahnoor Ahmad, a senior. “Cutting up the flowers required so much intricacy and I’m happy to see it all paid off!”

Interact Club advisor Judy Dwyer was thankful for the experience of working on the float and eating at The Cheesecake Factor together after a long day of work.

“It’s always nice when what you are working on gets recognition, but more importantly, spending the day collaboratively working on a float, getting to know new people, and enjoying a nice dinner afterward is its own reward,” said Dwyer. “Any time Interact participates in a service project outside the classroom, it gives me and the other Interactors an opportunity to ‘build better friendships’ together after a long day of work.

Participating floatbuilders included Anthony Scanlan, Madison Ray, Mahnoor Ahmad, Manuel Rodriguez, Paloma Luevano, Roger Delarea, Mikaella Juico, and Emaan Ahmad.