The annual homecoming event stands out as a highlight of many students’ first semester. Whether through friendly competition or camaraderie gained from toiling on a float, homecoming becomes a noteworthy occasion.

For the first act of homecoming, students make nominations for the royal court. These nominees must then compete in various pageants to win voters and secure a tiara or crown.

During class meetings, Sept. 16, the seniors nominated five candidates for queen or king, and the other classes nominated three candidates for princess. The results were announced the following morning (see bottom of article for a full listing of nominees).

For homecoming week, Oct. 18-22, princess and queen candidates will compete in pageants. In the past, these activities have ranged from pig wrangling to catching donuts on a string. The contestants are then elected at the end of the week, and the winners are announced on homecoming night.

Junior Morgan Childs is one of the three princess candidates for her class. Although this is the first time Childs has been nominated, she is confident in her abilities and looks forward to the competition ahead, she says.

“I’m really excited to be nominated,” Childs said. “I am definitely looking forward to the pageant and am looking forward to competing against Allison [Camden] and Darlene [Idsinga]. I’m not really nervous for the pageant because it will be fun, and I am super excited to see what we will be doing.”

As a queen contender this year, Cassidy Hutchins, ’11, anticipates the wide range of challenges seen in previous years. Although Hutchins will not be able to participate in her class float, she still intends to assist in its construction.

“I’m pretty excited to be nominated because the queen pageant is usually more fun than princess pageants, and I love crazy things like chasing pigs or chickens, and the bash video,” Hutchins said. “I’m a little sad because I won’t be able to be on the float, but I’ll still help work on it and help out my classmates.”

As one of the youngest competitors this year, Elora Hargis, ’14, has mixed emotions about homecoming week. Even though Hargis is nervous, she believes she has an advantage over the other candidates.

“I’m nervous because my friends are planning the events,” Hargis said. “I’m excited to dress up, and am looking forward to the challenges. We did a fear factor thing at my birthday party where I ate 18 live crickets and three live goldfish, so I’m feeling confident about it [the challenges].”

Homecoming also features king candidates, consisting of five senior boys. These young men will have to perform the traditional king dance in order to sway voters and be crowned homecoming king.

Nominee Josiah Ford, ’11, sees the event as a chance to have fun with friends. Ford anticipates rivalry between fellow competitors and himself, but believes he will enjoy the contest nonetheless.

“I always liked watching the king activities; it was always one of the highlights of the year,” Ford said. “I think this year, obviously it’s going to be more fun for me, because I’m nominated, and a bunch of my friends are nominated. There’s a kind of rivalry that comes with it, but I think we’re just going to have a good time.”

Fellow nominee Zach Camden, ’11, has looked up to the crown since his first year in high school. Camden views the other candidates as companions who will assist each other in creating a memorable homecoming experience.

“It’s exciting to be nominated for homecoming king because, ever since freshman year, I thought it would be really cool to do the dance and to be nominated and do all the fun stuff that goes along with it,” Camden said. “I think this year is going to be one of the best years, because I think the kings that were nominated — the five of us put together — can think up a really fun dance that should be very entertaining.”

Student leadership will be planning homecoming, as they have done in previous years. As one of the advisers of the class, teacher Jane Gillespie is convinced that the theme — holidays — will give each student the opportunity to participate in homecoming this year.

“I think it’s going to be an awesome year. The theme will give every class the opportunity to be creative,” Gillespie said. “Every day that week, we’re going to have a different holiday being represented, so I’m sure the competitions will be reflections of that.”

2010 Homecoming Court

Freshman Princesses:
Elora Hargis
Annaleah Madison
Ileana See

Sophomore Princesses:
Stefani Peck
Rachel Quiring
Madeleine Yee

Junior Princesses:
Allison Camden
Morgan Childs
Darlene Idsinga

King Candidates:
Zach Camden
Alex Campama
Andrew Evans
Josiah Ford
Danny Ibarra

Queen Candidates:
Madison Dooley
Cassidy Hutchins
Mary Reynolds
Kory Thompson
Jenna Yee

For more information, read the Sept. 16 article, ASB announces homecoming plans.

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