This year’s homecoming activities started on September 11 with a Pep Rally in the cafeteria during lunch. The room was packed with students and staff. Coaches and teammates from the soccer teams went on stage to get everybody excited about the game. Later that afternoon, Park hosted a just-for-fun kickball game for students in English Landing Park.

September 12 saw ThinkFast trivia during lunch, in which a Jeopardy-like stage was set up in the cafeteria and students competed amidst cheers from their friends. September 14 was free pizza night, and students were able to hang out at Stone Canyon Pizza for pizza and drinks paid for by Student Life.

Friday, September 15 was a big day, was the Alumni Luncheon.

The Alumni Luncheon is an event for current and past students and faculty that honors outstanding alumni with awards.

Casi Joy, class of 2012, is known for her music career. She gained notoriety after competing on The Voice last year. Joy received the Promising Young Professional Award, an award given to a recent graduate who shows they have the potential to be outstanding.

The Torchlighter Award was given to Benny Lee, who stressed the importance and quality of Park’s International Center of Music.

The Marlowe Sherwood Memorial Service Award went to Michael Woolstrum, class of 2012. He is a preacher and received this prestigious award for his commitment to service and charity. Finally, the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus award went to Walter Pearson, class of 1990.

Friday afternoon, a new exhibit in the Underground was unveiled – the World War I and Nisei Student Exhibition. This exhibit is a mural, and it’s located in the Academic Plaza. It features artwork created by Park’s art students and historical artifacts.

Friday night, the women’s volleyball team won 3-0 over Hannibal LaGrange University. This was followed by two more victories the next day – women’s soccer won 6-0 against Central Baptist College, and men’s soccer won 4-1 over Central Baptist after a lightning delay.

Also on Saturday was the crowning of the Homecoming Royalty court. Duke and Duchess are Christian Leonard and Joni Nelson; Prince and Princess are Thomas Murphy and Diamond Norris. Homecoming Queen went to Olivia Atkinson, and Homecoming King went to Blake Sellers.

Candidates for Homecoming Royalty are not chosen lightly at Park. “The process involved being nominated by student peers, writing an essay and submitting my resume to a panel who then decided between the top three nominees submissions,” said King Blake Sellers. Sellers is the Vice President of the Technology Fee Committee, a senator in PSGA, and the chair of PSGA’s Environmental Committee, in addition to being a member of the Honors Academy.

“I was excited to be recognized by Park and my peers,” Sellers said. “I went to the dance and had a great time.”

Homecoming Week ended with a masquerade dance hosted by Student Life at the Marriot in Briarcliff. They provided masks, a photo booth, food and a DJ for a night of celebrating and dancing. The Park Student Activities Board’s (PSAB) even made sure to honor the Year of Diversity; Oriana Tamburlini of PSAB’s Executive Board requested song suggestions from students so that music from all over the world would be played.

Margarita Araiza, PSAB President, said PSAB began planning for Homecoming and the dance last semester. “Homecoming is a long process that has to begin from months before,” she said, explaining that high schools planning their own homecomings had beat PSAB to the punch for ideal venues in the past.

According to Araiza, the entirety of PSAB pulled together to make this year’s homecoming a success. “My team did such a wonderful job,” she said. “It would not have been such a success without everyone doing their parts.”