Homecoming week has arguably remained a consistent student favorite for many years now. It’s a mixture of everything high-schoolers love: spirit days, fun activities, football games and dances. Celebrated in high schools and even colleges across the United States, its celebration is an event that traces back towards the 19th century. Popular in TV shows and movies, the Homecoming Court is what is traditionally emphasized. However, the main purpose of Homecoming is to participate in school traditions and garner school spirit.
At Troy High School, Homecoming week begins with spirit days and fun games that last a whole school week. Typically, these spirit days consist of fun dress-up days, and cool games throughout the week. The main events of the week being the Homecoming parade, the Homecoming football game and the Homecoming dance, but the most anticipated event fazing across the entire week is the Homecoming Court.
Homecoming Court is similar to a contest between members of all four grade levels. Members are nominated through other students with there typically being about 35-50 people nominated. 10-12 proceed to the finals round and four are picked. Although Homecoming is popular, most students do not know how the court process works.
Junior Dayana Ochao, a former member of the 2022-2023 court, said, “I thought it wasn’t a thing. I thought it was just like ‘Haha funny,’ but there was so much going into it that it felt like it was more like ‘This is an actual thing.’” Unlike the movies, nobody wins a prize and only seniors get crowned, thus the ubiquitous opinion seems to be that Court matters solely for the seniors.
As Homecoming is primarily student led, so is the voting process. To gain votes, many candidates publicize by posting on social media, spreading word, and asking others to vote for them.
Senior Adam McManus, Student Government president, agrees that social media is one of the easiest ways to gain publicity and votes for nominees. “That’s a big one. If you just say ‘Nominate us’ and attach the link on a story, or even a post, it does wonders.” Along with social media, another popular technique is to create a QR code and advertise that to collect votes.
Traditionally, the court candidates are perceived to be students with a good character who represent their school and community well, but this is not a notion that is necessarily followed. There are no rules or requirements to fill to become a part of Homecoming Court, so as long as you have been nominated and voted for, you can find yourself on the court. Garnering votes may simply be a matter of publicizing yourself and sometimes even how many people you know. Being on court means you get to exclusively participate in the Homecoming parade, get treated to dinner prior to the Homecoming game and be recognized at the game. According to ex-candidates, it is an exciting experience. Junior Keira McComb, part of the 2023-2024 Court, agreed, saying, “I was happy. I just thought it was really cool that I got picked because I didn’t think I’d be chosen for it.”
In its entirety, Homecoming is a week of fun games and participation meant to bring the student body together. It’s an enjoyable beginning to the school year and to many represents what the non-academic side of high school is like.
As described by junior Dayana Ochoa, the experience of a candidate is unique and exciting. “It was really fun being in the car during the Homecoming parade. Getting to Troy High, getting to see all my friends, and watching the football game was really fun! It was overall just a really fun experience!” However, although candidates and students experience Homecoming differently, you do not need to be on the Court to have fun. Homecoming is an event that can offer fun and excitement to each student regardless of who they are.
