Written by: Katherine Rogers           

Photos from: TRHS Senior Assassin Instagram

The senior class of ThunderRidge are almost finished with their high school career. Students continue to uphold traditions throughout the school that are unique to the senior class.  One of which is the game called Senior Assassin. The game became popularized in the mid 2010’s throughout western high schools. Thunderridge has been participating in the game for the last six years. The game is not associated with the school and is in no way sponsored. Senior Assasain is entirely run by students and works like this: every student is assigned a target who is a random student from their class and their goal is to “assassinate” their target by squirting them with water guns.

 The game begins at the end of the school year and ends prior to graduation.  Whoever is left standing at the end of the game wins a cash prize. The cash prize comes from the students themselves, each student pays $10 to enter the game which has culminated to a prize pot of over $3,000 dollars and counting. A cash prize of that size gives students unlimited options for its use. Many students begin college next fall or want to take a senior trip and that money would aid these students in doing so. Having this prize as an incentive, students are very eager and competitive in the game. 

There are many more specifications and rules of the game that students are required to follow. The senior class of which are participating in the game are divided into four different circles and they all join a Life 360 group in order to view the location of their targets. In order for an “assassination” to count the encounter must be filmed and a photo must be taken. 

There are “safety items” that students can wear that gives them immunity from being assasinated. These items include swim goggles and floaties. There is a caveat to these items, though, safety items are ineffective on “Purge Days”. Purge Days are arguably the most significant and most exciting part of the game. On these days anyone can go after their target without any safety items to protect themselves. There are also “Free-for-All” Purge Days in which anyone can go after anyone. Purge Days typically last for twenty four hours and during this time the majority of players get eliminated. Student Anna Venner (12) says, “Purge Days are super fun. They are total chaos and everyone really gets into the game.” 

Those outside of the game have differing opinions about Senior Assasain. Adults debate about the safety of the game and have concerns regarding break-ins or car accidents caused by the game.  But, there are rules in place that prohibit any vehicular game play or trespassing. Student, Cody Congdon,  reponds to concerns saying, “I know some people, mainly parents or teachers, don't understand the game and are worried, but ultimately it's just seniors having some stupid fun before we all graduate.” Ultimately, that is what the game is intended for. The game is meant to give senior students a chance to have fun and enjoy their time in their final year of high school and possibly win a cash prize.