On March 5, 2025, AngelaCares sponsored the High Tech Interact Club’s visit to the Maureen Collier Senior Community Center on Bergen Avenue. This marked our 3rd Annual Signature Field Trip to spend time with the senior residents, and it was truly a special experience.
Chaperoned by Mr. Morrison and Ms. Belovarac, a group of 20 students—mostly from the Interact Club, along with a few members of Mr. Morrison’s Photography Club—joined in for a day of fun, connection, and community. We were also honored to have Senator Angela McKnight, CEO of AngelaCares, working alongside us and the dedicated team at the community center.
The highlight of the day? Without a doubt, it was watching the seniors light up during karaoke after lunch! Our students organized a variety of activities, including spring-themed painting, Bingo (with T-shirt prizes generously donated by the HTHS Performing Arts Academy), helped them create exquisite corpse art, and, of course, karaoke. While we weren’t sure if karaoke would be possible, one of our students surprised us all by bringing a boom box, microphone, and a karaoke app—turning the moment into an unforgettable experience.
Beyond the laughter and music, this trip was about making connections and engaging with people our students don't know. Mr. Morrison encouraged his students to step outside their comfort zones and engage with the seniors in meaningful ways. As you’ll see below, many students reflected on the trip and shared the lessons they learned from this heartwarming experience. Attached are pictures of our students engaging with the seniors.
Reflections From Students who were on the trip:
Maximus Elmorry - It was my 2nd time going to the Senior Citizen Center and it was amazing. It was so fun to learn about some of the seniors and it was really amazing being in charge of karaoke with the microphone. The seniors had loved the karaoke sessions and it was a really great and interactive experience!
Daniel Amador - Seeing the senior citizens again was a very fun and engaging experience. I was able to learn a lot of things from hearing the seniors' stories and advice. Overall, being with them was entertaining, fascinating, and I would love to go again.
Kat Christopoulos - I haven’t ever been to a senior citizen center before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect- and immediately I was blown away by all of the personalities and talents of the seniors living there. It was wonderful to connect with older generations from different backgrounds and get to know them. So many of them were hilarious, and had me smiling and laughing all day! I’m very grateful for the experience as it allowed me to grow more comfortable with meeting and talking to more people, and found it very rewarding to bring smiles to their faces. I hope to visit again soon!
Mohammed Gezzaz - Being able to visit the seniors for the first time was an unforgettable experience. Seeing the smiles from their faces, hearing their stories and seeing them try art activities was a pleasure to witness.
Nick Patel - his trip had such a positive impact on me, pushing me to embrace new experiences and step outside of my comfort zone. It was enjoyable and fun getting to know and talk to so many different people from various backgrounds and overall impacted me in a positive way.
Koko Jeffers - As a first time member of the Senior Citizens Center, I didn’t know what to expect. However, right into the activities, I was pleasantly surprised at how fun it was to engage with the people there. I especially enjoyed the liveliness of karaoke, and how amazing everyone was able to perform.
Kashi Doshi - I wasn’t even supposed to originally be on this trip, as a person not in interact club but rather photography, but I’m glad I did go. Seeing and interacting with everyone was enjoyable and I would love to visit again.
Grace Chen - This was my first time going to the Senior Citizen Center and I really enjoyed sitting down and listening to the seniors while also being able to help them when needed. It was also amazing to see how much fun they had with the karaoke.
Amber Seniuk- I really enjoyed going to the Senior Center because I was able to meet new people. The senior citizens are very wise and bold. We had insightful conversations about how life was like for them when they were young and they sang songs from their childhood. I felt the community at Maureen Collier Senior Center and am grateful to have been a part of it.
Jaela Rodriguez - This was my first time being able to go visit in a Senior Citizen Center and it was such an amazing experience. I liked being able to get out of my comfort zone by talking on a microphone for the first time and being able to talk to the seniors and learn about them and their childhoods and to see the seniors have such a fun time.
Jayden Narine - I’m so happy I had the opportunity to visit the Senior Citizen Center again! I love asking seniors for advice for my future and conversing with them about their life experiences. Karaoke was very funny, and I’m happy that I was able to share an experience with them.
Riya Shah - Being able to visit the Senior Center allowed me to have so many different interactions with people and even talk to other people in Interact for the first time. It felt good to get out of my comfort zone and to be able to see the seniors enjoying our company.
Mystique Auguste - I’ve been to many Senior Centers yet this one was different. In the best ways possible. You can feel how close everyone was. From friends to marriages that continue after 40 years. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. Even though I didn’t sound the best during karaoke they cheered me on! I would definitely love to go back.
Noah Virgona - This was my first time visiting the senior home, and I found it incredibly interesting. The seniors I spoke to had some really useful advice on how I could better my life for the future, and they were overall very interesting and kind people. The activities were fun, and it seemed like most of the seniors had a nice time, which was amazing to see.
Jasmine Curruchich - Joining Interact Club and going on the senior citizenship center field was very eye opening and fun. The seniors that I talked to gave me excellent advice, great wisdom, and they made me laugh. I would love to go there again and get out of my comfort zone and create precious memories.
