Homecoming: Tradition V.S. Planning
Pic creds: Jenks Trojan Torch
By: Sheridyn Reeves
You slide on your shoes, maybe even put bandaids on your heels, your shoes rub against your swollen ankles leaving little bubbles of flesh. Whether it be heels or dress shoes we can all agree while the blisters persist for weeks nothing can compete with this school event. The glimmering lights, blaring music, a dumb poster and uncomfortable shoes…HOCO. A school tradition, which prides itself on welcoming a new football season is a sizable price tag and planning tradition. Jenks’ STUCO event planners, Riley Sharp and Madelynn Goss, give us a hefty update on the 2025 dance and how tradition meets planning.
STUCO V.S. Tradition
The tradition of Homecoming dates all the way back to as early as the 19th century, multiple colleges claim having the first Homecoming but it is still undecided. With the announcement of the 2025 theme for Jenks, Hollywood Homecoming, the event planners Riley Sharp and Madelynn Goss emphasize their extensive work in the whole process. STUCO, a student-led organization that works with their schools staff, advocates for students' interests and concerns. Jenks STUCO, or district 7, is made up of 6 committees, 50 students, and works greatly to improve leadership not just within school but in the real world.
“I have learned so many life-long skills that I can continue to take with me as I grow up. Leadership has helped me develop communication, organization, and delegation,” said Sharp.
While the theme and planning highlight the effort put in behind the scenes, the traditions themselves carry just as much weight in shaping the spirit of Homecoming. Homecoming in high school is usually seen celebrating the football team, which includes a parade and a court. The court tradition started in the 1930s to honor outstanding students and still currently does.
STUCO will usually send out nomination emails to the teachers of Jenks High School. Whether it be a surprise by a teacher or begging to be nominated by a teacher, voting will go on for weeks by students until the week before the Homecoming pep assembly. If you are one the few who makes it through you will be introduced during the pep assembly wearing either your best dress or suit. Building excitement in the school, it promotes school spirit and togetherness as the students collectively pick who deserves the title of King and Queen.
“Without feedback from the student body, planning Homecoming couldn’t be possible. We rely on hearing our peers and putting their ideas to use,” said Sharp.
Social Media: The Students’ Opinion
The students' opinion is a make-or-break for Homecoming. Without the contribution of their opinions, bad themes, terrible music, etc. may leave ticket sales spiraling. They rely heavily on ticket sales to fund everything, with the rough estimate in mind, decorations are precariously picked out as well as music.
The DJ which is the same every year utilizes social media for music requests and ideas. A story on Instagram is sent out every year to receive Homecoming theme ideas, every council member has a rough idea of what they are leaning towards but ultimately the most favorable wins. This year it was between Candyland and Hollywood. They put up the theme again on a poll and Hollywood won. Everything is dependent on social media–reaching out to the students is their biggest hope. With observation, roughly everyone is excited and ready to go buy everything they need to get ready for the dance.
“Just to see the students’ ideas come to life and look good is really what makes it for me. We've gotten a lot of feedback and I'm confident that it will live up to last year,” said Goss.
If you have a love for decorating or just a creative mind, share your voice and follow Jenks STUCO Instagram!
