As we celebrate the end of the year, Manual RedEye is taking a trip down memory lane with some of our favorite photos from 2019.

Mandala Gupta VerWiebe (11, J+C) holds out a cupcake during a photoshoot for Manual Y-Club. The cupcake and others were sold at Y-Club’s Cupcake Wars, a fundraising event for the Y. This was the sixth annual Cupcake Wars. “It was my first time working the event and helping out with it, and it’s a really fun way to make money,” Gupta VerWiebe said. Photo by Marilyn Buente. You can read the full article here. Feb. 12, 2019. 

As Democratic legislators walk up the stairs to the floor of the Kentucky House of Representatives, teachers chant as loud as they can and thank them for their support. This marked day three of the teacher strikes in support of Jefferson County Public Schools when Kentucky legislature was trying to pass bills meant to affect the public school systems. Photo by Piper Hansen. You can read the full article here. March 7, 2019.

During the scheduled monthly fire drill, firefighter Mr. Cecil successfully proposes to Ms. Hunt (who later became Mrs. Cecil), an AP Human Geography teacher. According to Mrs. Cecil, Mr. Cecil rearranged schedules to plan the proposal at Manual. Photo by Phoebe Monsour. You can read the full article here. April 26, 2019.

India Smith holds up her handmade sign at the Women’s Rights Rally, which took place in response to the bills prohibiting abortion in souther states like Alabama. This was one of the many rallies that Manual students attended. Photo by Piper Hansen. You can read the full article here. May 24, 2019.

Sky High: Lena Kaziska (11, MST) swings herself over the bar in her pole vault event. Kaziska currently holds the school record for her event. “We haven’t had that many pole-vaulters, but it’s still really cool to think that my name will be in the school records,” she said. Photo provided by Kayla Wendler. You can read the full article here. May 30, 2019.

A view of the senior’s parking spots from above, something that many of them will never see. An event often carried out by other high schools, this was Manual’s first time taking on the tradition since YPAS stopped painting student parking spots during the 2017-18 school year. Photo by Sean McInnis. You can read the full article here. Sept. 15, 2019.

Wash the Windows: Adam Tichy (10, HSU) dries a window at the Manual Swimming Car Wash. The car wash was a fundraising event to support the growing swim team because the State Championship meet is taking place in Lexington, which requires travel expenses. “With the money we hope to get new jackets or have fun events for the whole team,” captain Lian McKernan (12, YPAS) said. Photo by Norah Wulkopf. You can read the full article here. Sept. 22, 2019.

Jason Prather (12, HSU) walks with his family and girlfriend through the lines of underclassmen players in traditional senior night fashion. As a captain on the Varsity team, Prather will miss the team and its members. “I just love the camaraderie of it. I love my team. And you know, win, lose, or draw, we’re always together and we’re a family,” he said. Photo by Euan Dunn. You can read the full article here. Sept. 26, 2019.

In the first YPAS MainStage production of the school year, Anon[ymous], Pascal, portrayed by Jason Maina (12,YPAS), recalls his home and his mother as he hides on top of a moving train. This show is a modern day retelling of “the Odyssey” by Homer that is told through the struggles of immigrants torn from their homes. Photo By Cesca Campisano. You can read the full article here. Oct. 1, 2019.

As tradition before every football game, Justin Hardy (12, HSU) runs the Manual flag across the football field shrouded in red and white smoke. This is the job of a Manual “Crimson Crazie” that they do before every game and after each touchdown Manual scores. Photo by EP Presnell. You can read the full article here. Nov. 1, 2019. 

The student section goes wild as the Crimsons score their first touchdown of the night at the Male/Manual game on Nov. 1. The Crimson Rams were in the lead for the first three quarters of the game, and lost to Male by one point in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter. This was the closest the Rams had come to beating Male in six years. Photo by Cesca Campisano. You can read the full article here. Nov. 1, 2019.

“Mamma Mia!” is the musical theatre production inspired by the music of ABBA. In Nov. and Dec. of 2019, YPAS put on “Mamma Mia!” as their fall musical. Pictured, Evey Robinson (12, YPAS), Kylie McGuffey (12, YPAS), and Annie Jennings (12, YPAS) perform as Donna and the Dynamos in the final act of the show. Their costumes for this final performance were kept a secret from the people going to see the shows until the production started. Photo by Cesca Campisano. You can read the full article here. Nov. 26, 2019.