West Jefferson High School Homecoming 60th Diamond Anniversary: Brilliance on Display
West Jefferson Senior High School’s 2015-2016 homecoming held special significance to the West Jefferson Buccaneer family because it celebrated the 60th anniversary of the school’s existence. The theme “Diamonds Are Forever” echoed the continued commitment of the school’s stakeholders to “forever” support and honor West Jefferson’s legacy of excellence in education, school spirit, and community involvement.
The celebration began with an Alumni mixer on October 19th where past administrators, teachers and students enjoyed networking, reminiscing, viewing all of the memorabilia, and the special mural created for the occasion. Next, the alumni participated in a special tailgate before the homecoming game on October 23, 2015. At the homecoming game, the Bucs beat their opponents, East Jefferson High School, with a score of 40 to 21. At halftime, a special tribute was made to honored and valued alumni, Mr. Ellis Cambre from the class of 1962. He was presented with an award for attending 500 consecutive West Jefferson football games.
No homecoming would be complete without a royal court. A grand parade featuring the royal court, phenomenal school band, impressive ROTC, and talented performance teams paraded before the adoring crowd of family and friends as they proceeded through the streets of the community.
This year’s Diamond Jubilee 60th Homecoming Court included the following outstanding students:
Ervis Gutierrez- Homecoming King
Kayla Davis- Homecoming Queen
Mr. Senior– Kyle Pollar
Miss Senior– Stephany Osorto
Mr. Junior– DeJuante Murray
Miss Junior– Kenya Jefferson
Mr. Sophomore– Patrick Hamilton
Miss Sophomore– Corelle Hooper
Mr. Freshman– Carlito Dominguez
Miss Freshman– Diamond Ridgely
The general student body showed their spirit during homecoming week with a series of events that included the following dress down days: Era Day, Sports Day, Rep Your Class Day, and Spirit Day. Other special events included a talent show, pep rally, and powder puff football game.
Homecoming culminated with the annual homecoming dance. Keeping with the theme, “Diamonds are Forever”, the students danced the night away in the gym which had been transformed into an oasis of brilliant gems and beauty.
The anticipation, excitement, and participation of each event spoke volumes in terms of each celebration’s success. Principal Vannessa Brown- Lewis and the homecoming coordinator, Ms. Malaika Williams, expressed the importance of the great significance placed on alumni participation. It is theirs, and the entire West Jefferson High School family’s hope, that those who forged the way of this great institution’s past would continue a long and lasting bond with the school community of the present, in order to see continued success of West Jefferson Senior High School in the future.