Homecoming Theme for 2021 at Escalon High School is “Eski is out of this World” and features all outer space themes. Students on campus are enjoying dress up days this week and a variety of activities, leading up to the Homecoming Game and crowning of the 2021 Homecoming Queen on Friday night, Sept. 10.
Candidates are, in alphabetical order, Sarah Bava, Taylor Cullum, Soleil Gouzenne, Emily Gutierrez, Amanda Murphy.
Candidate Bava noted she “was excited” when she heard her name announced as a candidate and is looking for to all the activities of the week.
“Being in the parade,” she said of what she expects to enjoy the most.
For Cullum, she said her favorite teacher at EHS is Miss Harrington, who teaches English.
“She makes the class fun,” Cullum noted.
Among the best memories for Gouzenne during her time at Escalon High School?
“Being Valley Oak League champs for softball,” she said of last year’s COVID-shortened season when the Lady Cougars moved into the VOL.
The best part of attending EHS for Gutierrez is one of her extracurricular activities.
“Being a part of the cheerleading team, we’re a family,” she said.
Advice that Murphy would pass on to underclassmen is basic.
“Just to be involved in as much stuff as you can,” she said of making the most of your time in high school.
The candidates will have the opportunity to be introduced to the crowd on Friday night, first driven around the track and then escorted to the center of the football field.
Dress up day themes for the ‘Out of this World’ week included “Starry Night” pajama day on Tuesday, Sept. 7; “Space Jam” sports jersey day on Wednesday, Sept. 8; “Clone Wars” twin/group dress up day on Thursday, Sept. 9 and “Clash of the Planets” on Friday, Sept. 10 with class colors and spirit wear. Senior class color is black; juniors, white; sophomores, purple; freshmen, yellow.
The week’s events also include the Wednesday Night Powder Puff football game with the girls playing and the boys coaching; a Thursday rally and the Friday afternoon Homecoming Parade downtown at 2 p.m., followed by football at Engel Field. JV kickoff is at 5 p.m., varsity game starts about 7 p.m. and the Queen Coronation will be at halftime of the varsity game.
Junior Isabella Nalbandian is one of this year’s Homecoming Commissioners.
“I’m nervous but excited,” she said of the festivities, noting she and fellow commissioner Grace Underwood hope they have put together a good week of activities.
“It was probably the most stressful thing I’ve ever done, honestly,” she admitted, trying to coordinate events both with the school and the city – to get the Homecoming parade lined up – amidst the uncertainty of the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape.
She added that she and Underwood are best friends so working together to come up with the theme and planning the dress up days was “pretty easy” and was the fun part of the process. The two will also handle the emcee duties for the Friday night halftime festivities.
