Five Queen candidates have been announced, a Grand Marshal selected, parade plans made … it’s Homecoming Week in Escalon.
Teacher Ryan Young will have a place of honor in the Friday afternoon downtown parade, Oct. 13, as this year’s Grand Marshal and five candidates are vying for the honor of being named Homecoming Queen.
In alphabetical order, candidates are Sarina Algaheim, Karsyn Beckham, Grace Fitzgerald, Lily Franks and Grace Stime.
Dress up days are being observed during the week at the high school and each class will decorate its Homecoming float based on their theme – freshmen are Beauty and the Beast, sophomores are The Wizard of Oz, juniors are Alice in Wonderland and seniors are Peter Pan. The parade on Friday will feature the Grand Marshal, the queen candidates, the class floats, several sports teams, musical marching groups, elementary school floats and more. Time for the parade is 2:30 p.m.; it lines up on Coley, turns on to First Street and then on to Main Street before disbanding.
For the Homecoming Queen candidates, all were excited about being nominated and were looking forward to a fun week of festivities on campus, including a Wednesday night rally.
“It’s unreal, I’m definitely excited,” said Sarina Algaheim, the daughter of Faisal and Nadia Algaheim. “What I enjoy most is representing my people and just showing that there’s always good and positive people.”
Karsyn Beckham is the daughter of Brian and Kelly Beckham and said she was a bit overwhelmed when learning of her nomination.
“I started crying,” she said, noting that it was the encouragement of her friends to get involved in a variety of activities that has helped her make the most of her years at EHS.
The daughter of Tim and Michelle Fitzgerald, Grace Fitzgerald served as a Homecoming Commissioner last year and this year, finds herself in the spotlight as a candidate.
“Being a Homecoming Commissioner was really special, now being on the opposite side of that, it’s exciting,” she said.
Lily Franks is the daughter of Brian and Cami Franks and said she has had an overall good experience at Escalon High School.
“I’ve gained confidence because people here are very comforting and accepting,” she said, noting that she often came to school sporting outside the norm hair color and make up over the years, but never felt out of place.
Grace Stime, the daughter of Angela Stime, is also excited to be part of the Homecoming festivities. She is also the reigning Miss Escalon.
“I feel good,” she said of being chosen as a candidate. “I was campaigning for Sarina … this is so cool.”
The group will be driven around the track at EHS on Friday night at halftime of the varsity game, with the new Queen announced then. The football team captains traditionally present the crown, cape, signed football and flowers, with a ‘victory’ lap then taken by the Queen, once more driving around the track.
Meanwhile, the Annual Homecoming Fall Athlete Breakfast, hosted by the Escalon Lions Club, will be served up for all fall athletes beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 13 at the school. Pancakes, eggs and more will be served.
Escalon High School officials have offered their thank to the Lions, Sports Boosters, Rotary, Mar-Val, Kiwanis, and Big Boy Market for their generosity and time to put on the breakfast honoring fall athletes.
