While many students spent Christmas break resting at home, several Braves took their vacation far beyond Wyoming. From December 24 through January 4, Ruby Morgan, Shyann Hoopes, Pheonixx Hovey, Jonah Finch, and Zoe Jones traveled across the world to places including the French Polynesian islands, Hawaii, Tijuana, Mexico, and Guatemala. Each trip looked very different, but all were filled with meaningful experiences, cultural connections, and memories that will last long after winter break ended.
These trips weren’t just ordinary vacations. Some students traveled to support family, others to compete in athletics, and one even dedicated his break to helping a family in need. Together, their stories show how Star Valley students used their time off not only to relax, but also to grow, serve, and experience new cultures. Whether building a home, playing football on a Hawaiian field, reconnecting with relatives, or exploring the ocean, each student returned with a broader perspective of the world.
Jonah Finch- Tijuana, Mexico
Jonah Finch spent his Christmas break in Tijuana, Mexico, but instead of sightseeing, his week was centered on service. Jonah traveled with his family to help build a home for a small, young Mexican family. When they arrived, a concrete foundation had already been poured, but the rest of the house still needed to be built. Over the course of the week, Jonah and the volunteers framed walls, installed sheets, painted, built roof trusses, shingled the roof, and worked on plumbing and electrical inside the walls.
Although the amount of work seemed overwhelming at first, Jonah explained that it became manageable thanks to teamwork. Two other families volunteered alongside his, making the intense schedule possible. “This is a lot to do for a miniature house in a small amount of time but was easier than we thought with the help of two other families who volunteered to come work on the house with my family,” Jonah said. The family they were building the home for supported them as well, cooking meals every day and sharing food from their culture. Jonah was introduced to new foods and drinks, including horchata and juices made from flowers, and enjoyed meals like tacos, carne and sausage tacos, and even hamburgers.
Beyond the construction site, Jonah experienced daily life in Tijuana, noticing street performers juggling, dancing, and doing magic at intersections. Vendors walked through traffic selling blankets, snacks, and clothing directly to cars. One of the most challenging moments came when heavy rain turned the dirt roads into deep mud. At one point, Jonah and his group had to detach a trailer and push it by hand down a muddy hill, sacrificing their shoes and clothes to make it to the main road. Flooding the next day made travel impossible, forcing them to pause work before returning later. Despite the obstacles, Jonah described the experience as meaningful and eye-opening.
Shyann Hoopes & Pheonixx Hovey- Hawaii
Shyann Hoopes and Pheonixx Hovey both traveled to Hawaii over break, going with each other’s families while still having separate experiences that came together around football and family time. Pheonixx traveled to Hawaii after being invited to play in the Tiki Shrine Bowl, which included a week-long football camp. During the camp, he trained and bonded with teammates, played beach games, and went out to dinners with the team. For Pheonixx, the highlight of the trip was getting the opportunity to play one more football game—this time in Hawaii. “I would say my favorite part of the trip was playing one more football game in Hawaii,” Pheonixx said.
Shyann traveled to support Pheonixx and also to celebrate her 18th birthday. She went with her mom, sister, uncle, and grandma, and the group explored the islands together. While in Hawaii, Shyann attended the Tiki Shrine Bowl, joined Pheonixx’s family for dinners, and celebrated her birthday with them. She shared, “My favorite thing I did was go to dinner with Phoenixx’s family to celebrate my birthday and go on hikes.”
She described trying local foods like tacos, açaí bowls, and fresh fruit snow cones, with the snow cones standing out as her favorite. In addition to attending the football game, Shyann took part in several adventurous activities. For her birthday, she went skydiving. “While we were there I went sky diving for my 18th birthday. That was also really fun,” Shyann said. She also spent time hiking, visiting beaches, and zip lining across nine zip lines on the North Shore. Although Shyann and Pheonixx had different schedules during the day, they came together for shared meals and the Shrine Bowl, making the trip special for both of them.
Zoe Jones- Guatemala & Ruby Morgan- French Polynesia
Zoe Jones spent her Christmas break in Guatemala visiting family and reconnecting with her roots. She traveled to several locations, including Puerto San Jose, Antigua, and Champerico, where most of her family lives. Zoe described Guatemala as welcoming, explaining that people there treat each other like family and are friendly, outgoing, and generous. During the trip, she met many relatives on her mom’s side and participated in activities like releasing baby turtles into the ocean. “The trip was definitely an amazing experience I won’t ever forget!” Zoe said.
Ruby Morgan’s break took her to the French Polynesian islands, where she spent much of her time surrounded by the ocean. She snorkeled and scuba dived in bright blue water and sailed between different islands. On the island of Huahine, Ruby rented scooters and explored the area, stopping at a river where local kids were playing. Despite a language barrier, Ruby joined them in games like tag, staying for over an hour simply enjoying the moment. “I love being in the water so my favorite part of the trip was always being so close to the ocean and being able to get in all the time,” Ruby said.
From building homes to playing football, reconnecting with family, and exploring the ocean, these Star Valley students used their Christmas break in meaningful ways. Their experiences show that learning doesn’t stop when school does—it can happen anywhere in the world.
