On Sunday, Sept. 22, there was a hallway decorating competition among the classes from 1-4pm. Each graduating class was invited to come help decorate their hallway to try and win spirit week points. 

     Each class was assigned a different hallway; therefore, each hallway of the school would be decorated in Stow spirit for homecoming week.

     Student Council provided all the decorations for each of the grades and each class had free range to decorate the hallways as they saw fit with only a few restrictions.

    A few of the restrictions were: tape could not be on any painted surface, no paint on window and no paint on the lockers.

     Each class followed these rules, and made the hallways very unique and different. They added some ideas that some of the other classes did not do.

     Sophomore, Mariah Propst, thought it was a good way to have kids be able to express their creativity if kids didn’t want to dress up; however, the hallways could have been more unique if more of a variety of supplies were provided.

     “It could be a better way for students to express their creativity if we could bring in our own decorations, or if more of a variety was provided,” Propst said. 

     Since all the kids in the high school were invited to come help, there were a variety of unique ideas added to each hallway. Some kids handled different aspects of the hallway; however, they all worked as a team to complete the hallway.

     Hallway decorating is a fun way for all students to be able to come together and try and earn spirit week points. Student Council also ordered pizza and water for the kids to enjoy while they were decorating. 

     A new idea added this year to be more creative was a banner. Each grade had to decorate their own class banner in a unique way place it in their hallway. 

     Although each hallway is decorated with maroon and gold, the theme for homecoming gets incorporated even if it is a small way.

     “We always try and incorporate the theme even if it is small. For example, the sophomores used the streamers to make curtain like designs like they had in Old Hollywood,” said Propst.

     The hallway decorating competition was won by the sophomore class giving them 15 spirit points, putting them in the lead for the class competition. It will also bring them more excitement for the pep rally on Friday.

     Alaina Hoover

     Friends and couples are given the opportunity to compete against each other to be on homecoming court. Students who are nominated are looked up to, and the tradition is known to be a fun experience. 

     Student council was in charge of coordinating voting, and it took place on Wed, Sept. 11 through an anonymous link sent through email. Students voted for two people in their class who they think deserved the spots.

     This year’s freshman candidates are Chloe Brooker and Antonio Fabela. For the sophomores, Olivia Taylor and Benjamin Elmore . The juniors representatives are Claire Hawes and Brian Rath, Sydney Cravens and Tristen Harper.

     Seniors have the chance to win Homecoming king and queen if they are on court. The options are Abi Baldwin and Adam Folk, Julia Csernyik and Ethan Hearty, Emily Thomas and Williams Boggs, or Elora Nicholas and Matthew Duffy.

  Some people did not receive the email, or did not even know voting was going on. Many students thought the process was unfair that it was not made more clear how to vote; however, voting was not re-opened.

     Everyone on court attends Luncheon on Wed, Sept. 25 during seventh period to go over everything they need to know for the parade, game and dance. They also all practice the announcing at halftime of the Homecoming game during ninth period on Fri, Sept. 27.

    In the parade on the same Friday, court sits on the back of cars and are presented to the city. During the game they sit on the sidelines under a tent. Later on, the courts are announced at halftime.

     They walk down the center of the field with their parents, while the students’ future plans are announced over the speakers. Every senior is given a box; the girl with the red flowers is queen, and the guy with the red crown is king.

     Baldwin is most excited for the Homecoming parade and football game. She is looking forward to making new memories and cannot wait to be part of this tradition.

     “Adam and I both love Stow, and we are such a close couple. He’s practically my best friend, and we will represent Stow really well,” Baldwin said.

   Taylor is thrilled to be on court and said, “It is a privilege to win, and I’m excited that we did. I hope we have a fun evening and treasure that special memory.”

     Homecoming court can be a lot of pressure, since the couples are in front of the whole city and school. Court has many expectations to live up to and are idolized.

     “I think it will be fun to go to all of the events, but slightly stressful because we will be in front of many people,” Rath said. He still hopes to have a fun time and add to his highschool experience.

     As freshmen, Brooker and Fabela are looking forward to making new friends. Court is a great way to get out there and be known.

      “I feel like this experience will be fun because of the connections we can make with others,”  Brooker said.

     The dance is held on Sat, Sept. 28 in the highschool gym. Tickets can be purchased during lunch periods from Mon, Sept. 23 to Fri, Sept. 27. Homecoming court will be called in, and a slow dance will be held between the king and queen.