VINTON–William Byrd High School students traditionally nominate and elect a homecoming court and a queen each year. This year they asked Principal Tammy Newcomb if they could choose a homecoming king as well. That makes a homecoming court of 20 students for the first time
Members of the freshman class made nominations for the court and elected one boy and one girl from their class. Sophomores elected two boys and two girls to serve on the court; juniors three males and three females.
Seniors chose four young men and four young women for the court who are voted on by the entire school to determine the queen and king. The students vote electronically on Blackboard over a two-day period. The results of the peer votes will be revealed during half-time at the Friday night football game on October 14 when Newcomb will crown the king and queen.
All members of the court will be circling the track in convertibles during halftime, waving to the crowd, before the king and queen are announced at centerfield.
In addition to the homecoming king and queen, Mr. Football is chosen by the coaching staff and named at the Homecoming Dance at the school on Saturday night.
The homecoming court was introduced to the student body at a Homecoming Assembly early on the morning of October 11. They and their parents had been treated to a breakfast in the school library before the assembly. Each member of the court entered the gymnasium with family through a balloon arch, and were presented with a flower by Dog Pound leader Macon Hale.
The freshman representatives chosen by their peers for the 2016 William Byrd High School Homecoming Court are Kayla Witt (escorted by her parents Barry and Sandi Witt) and Nathan Patrick (escorted by his parents, Keith and Ginny Lynn Patrick).
Kayla plays basketball and soccer and is involved with the DECA Club. Nathan plays basketball and soccer.
The sophomore representatives are Megan James (escorted by Bobby James), D’Shon Talton (escorted by mother Lucia Talton), Kamdyn Settles (escorted by parents Kevin and Dee Settles), and Sam Dantzler, Jr. (escorted by parents David and Alyce Dantzler).
Megan plays volleyball and basketball and is involved in the SCA and Math Pound. D’shon is a varsity football player. Kamdyn is a junior varsity cheerleader. Sam plays varsity football and is a member of the DECA Club.
The junior representatives on the court are Brooke Blankenship (escorted by parents Chris and Jackie Blankenship), Beem Sareekun (escorted by his aunt Veronica Corkery), Brenna Donahue (escorted by her father Edward Donahue), Chance Harrison (escorted by his mother, Brianna Harrison), Jeanette Sako (escorted by her father, Amadou Sako), and Logan Taylor (escorted by his aunt Regina Hill).
Brooke runs cross country, indoor track, and plays soccer. She is a member of the Leo Club, Elephant Club, Byrd Buddies, Prevention Club, FCA, SCA, DECA, Hiking, and FBLA.
Beem plays golf and soccer. Brenna is involved with the FCA, Math Pound, is treasurer of the Leo Club, and vice president of the Junior Class. Chance plays soccer and is involved with the JROTC and the Raiders team.
Jeanette plays Valley AFC travel soccer, indoor track, and varsity soccer, and she is involved in the Mentor Club, French Club, Leo Club, Prevention Club, and FCA. Logan plays varsity football.
Senior representatives on the court, who are also the nominees for king and queen, include Molly Carpenter (escorted by her father, Harold Carpenter), Stephen Olsen (escorted by his parents, Mark and Kelly Olsen), Ali Shail (escorted by her parents, Jenny and Todd Shail), Jake Burger (escorted by his mother, Meredith Burger), Jessica Stanley (escorted by her parents, Dana and Tim Stanley), Jesse Settle (escorted by his parents, Julie and Bob Chappell), Lauren Stringer (escorted by her father Charlie Stringer), and Ryan Green, (escorted by his parents, Ken and Paige Shropshire).
Molly plays volleyball and is involved with the FCA, SCA, Beta and Leo Clubs, Math Pound, and Prevention Club. She is planning to attend college but is undecided about which one. Asked her favorite high school memory, she says it is “attending sports events.”
Stephen plays basketball and soccer. He is involved with the SCA, Leo, Prevention, and Beta Clubs, and the FCA. He attends the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School. He is considering as his college choices Duke, Virginia Tech, and Clemson. His favorite memory is being named “Top Terrier.”
Ali plays volleyball and lacrosse. She is involved in the Prevention and Leo Clubs, the Mentorship Program, and DECA. She hopes to attend the University of Dayton. Her favorite memories are “having the opportunity to meet so many helpful teachers and meeting great friends.”
Jake has so many great memories from his years at Byrd, but his favorite “has to be being a part of this year’s homecoming court.”
Jessica is involved in cross country, varsity soccer, Beta, Leo Club, and the International Club. She plans to attend James Madison University. Her favorite memory is “playing soccer alongside my incredible teammates who support each other in every game.”
Jesse plays soccer and runs indoor track. He is involved with SCA, FCA, Leo Club, Freshman Mentors, Student United Way, and the Star Wars Club. He is hoping to attend James Madison University or Virginia Tech. His favorite memory is “being a part of the Dog Pound atmosphere in football and basketball games.”
Lauren plays varsity lacrosse and is involved in Beta and DECA. She plans to attend JMU for nursing. She says she “will never forget the Dog Pound memories, the football and basketball games, covered in maroon and orange paint and wearing togas.”
Ryan plans to attend Virginia Western and then go to the Jefferson College of Health Sciences. His favorite memory is of “going on the Marketing field trip to a Charlotte Hornets game during my junior year.”
The homecoming court and activities are organized by WBHS art teacher Allyson Goin. ITRT Cherry Bell Damasco-Farrington is in charge of the Homecoming Dance. Teachers Alicia Spangler and Madison Weisenborn, along with the SCA, decorated the school for Spirit Week.
The Terriers will be facing Northside High School at their Homecoming Game on October 14. The homecoming court festivities get underway at halftime. Students and staff have been celebrating Spirit Week all week long.