The pavilion buzzed with excitement as students packed the space, forming a vibrant sea of green, blue, purple, and red class spirit sections. Each grade cheered loudly, their voices uniting to support their peers throughout class competitions. As stunning performances by Drill and Advanced Dance wrapped up, a wave of anticipation swept through the crowd— the Top 15 Homecoming Court candidates would soon be announced.
Each year, the faculty and seniors nominate 15 girls and 15 boys as potential candidates for homecoming queen and king. These nominees are recognized for their contributions to school life— whether through academics, sports, or club activities— as well as their popularity among peers. Once the Top 15 are nominated, the entire student body narrows down the court to the Top 5 before selecting the Homecoming Queen and King. The grand reveal of the Queen and King takes place at the Homecoming football game, one of the most anticipated football games of the year.
As the nominees were called up one by one, each received a small token of recognition—a snack bag and a colorful balloon. For 30 seniors, this was an exhilarating moment of celebration and recognition. Some were caught off guard by their nomination, expressing pleasant surprise at being chosen for the court. Top 15 nominee Mia Hiraiwa (12) shared, “I wasn’t expecting it, so it was surprising at first, but I’m happy to be on the Top 15 with my friends.” Her sentiment was echoed by fellow nominee Noah Johnson (12): “I’m excited and surprised that my peers would nominate me—it’s such a cool experience.” With over 450 students in the senior class, being one of the selected 30 nominees was an exceptional honor. Top 5 finalist Matthias Kim (12), reflected on the experience with mixed emotions: “It feels kind of weird, but cool that my friends and the band liked me enough to get me there,” he admitted, adding a lighthearted touch to the occasion.
Alongside the announcement of the Top 15 nominees, the rally also unveiled the much-anticipated Homecoming theme for the year: New Orleans. Inspired by Disney’s beloved animated classic The Princess and the Frog, the announcement was met with thunderous cheers and applause from the student body as excitement from the festive theme spread throughout the pavilion. “I’m excited, especially with it being my fourth and final year of homecoming,” Johnson expressed.
As the rally drew to a close and the soft notes of West High’s “Alma Mater” theme song echoed in the background, students began to file out of the pavilion, buzzing with plans and excitement for the upcoming Homecoming festivities. Whether it would be their first or last Homecoming, the event promised to be a memorable celebration of school spirit, unity, and tradition.
