On the morning of September 13th, 2024, votes were counted and homecoming court was announced. With this recent announcement, it is important to take a step back and understand the tradition of homecoming court, as well as why it is such an exciting part of high school for many students.
The homecoming court is a group of students honored during the week of homecoming. Typically, the court consists of twelve seniors, six male and six female. However, this year, students voted for seven girls and boys each to represent the class of 2024. These students are chosen by their peers to represent their grade and the schools’ values. This tradition is a very exciting time during the school year and can be traced back to the early 20th century.
Not only is the court important for the seniors, but it’s also a fun event across the entire high school. “It’s important because we’ve watched people get crowned since we were kids or for some, freshman year. It’s a fun tradition to be a part of,” said junior Olivia Kuehner. On top of this, when asked if she would like to be considered for homecoming court next year, Kuehner responded, “I would like to be thought of for homecoming court, but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. It’s nice to be thought of for that position, but in two years it won’t matter to me anymore.”
Clearly, homecoming court is an exciting part of high school for all students. Students can find enjoyment in not only the events that occur during the week of homecoming, but also the crowning of the king and queen. The titles of king and queen are awarded to members on the court that receive the most votes from their peers. Out of the 14 court members, one male and one female will be selected for this position. However, to some students, it is not a major deal if they are not selected. While it is nice to be considered for this, once seniors graduate high school, they feel it won’t matter as much.
“Everyone on the court is nice… I think maybe being kind is important,” replied senior Zoe Sauvagnargues when asked about the overall point of being on homecoming court. “I’m most excited for the game and walking with my parents,” Sauvagnargues added.
There are several different events that take place for the members of the court. They get to participate during spirit week, the pep rally, and the homecoming football game. Typically, the announcement of the king takes place at the pep rally while the queen is announced at the football game. At this game, the girls walk out with escorts of her choice, usually their parents, and they stand on the track waiting for the queen to be crowned. Given the several events during this week, there are different preferences for what the most exciting one is.
There are also several different attributes that the homecoming court members need to reflect. “I think it is voted on who is most liked and who is the most charismatic,” said senior Deven Pandey, “so yes I do think that the court is based on popularity as well as just being a good person to be around.” Pandey additionally stated, “I think they wanted to be recognized as part of the senior class as one of the top students in the grade or the most popular.”
While popularity and being a well known candidate for the class is certainly important, the votes are based on much more than that. These students are chosen based on their spirit for the school. It is considered an honor to be on the court, and these students want to be recognized as representatives for their grade.
Overall, the tradition of homecoming is an essential part of school culture that highlights leadership, involvement with the school, and student diversity. In recognizing individuals who embody school spirit and values, students are encouraged to interact with their peers and the school community. This tradition not only creates memories but also strengthens the relationships between students. Regardless of who is chosen to be on the court, it is intended to be an enjoyable experience for all students involved.
