[ot-caption title=”Homecoming brought back school spirit to PC students needing a break from academic rigor. (via Ruchika Sharma, Senior)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/DSC_0125.jpg”]

Homecoming has been a spirited school tradition throughout the years. Every year the activities change slightly, but this year had new and exciting ones. On Wednesday, students participated in their grade’s sidewalk chalk competition, water balloon toss, hallway decoration, and more. Thursday was the traditional Powderpuff game, and students were allowed to dress up in their class color. Friday came the annual pep rally and Homecoming football game, and the entire high school wore green and white to show off their school pride.

[ot-caption title=”The Senior Football Banner gets some finishing touches before the Friday Homecoming Game. (Via Jennifer Wilson, Junior)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/homecoming2.jpg”]

Type One got the chance to talk to some Pine Crest alumni, including Mr. Walters and and Mrs. Promnitz, about how different Homecoming is now compared to when they were students at Pine Crest.

Mr. Walters says his favorite part about homecoming is the football game. “Of course, the game was a highlight for me since I was a member of the football team. I remember the days fondly, and I am so happy to be a part of the program again now,” he told Type One. As a student, Mr. Walters said he most loved the unity of school spirit. “I loved the connectedness we all felt during the homecoming week. School spirit was always high, and the community was together in an effort to celebrate our great school,” he said.

According to Mrs. Promnitz, there were a few differences today from when she was a student.  The big difference is that the homecoming football game and the dance were both on the same day. Mrs. Promnitz stated, “It was a little more compacted, it all happened in a day or two. Saturday was the big day.” There were no Homecoming King and Queen when Mrs. Promnitz was a student, instead there were multiple “Panther Honeys,”girls elected from all different groups, including the Senior class, cheerleaders, and all major varsity teams.

Mr. Walters added that, “We used to make floats for each grade level that we would display at halftime of the game, and the construction of those floats offered wonderful team-building opportunities for our classes.” When Mrs. Promnitz and Mr. Walters were students at Pine Crest, there used to be a parade that showcased all of the “Panther Honeys.”

Type One also talked to Jason Weil ’94, who stated that his favorite part of coming back to the Homecoming football games every year is to see old friends and to catch up with the ones he hasn’t seen in 20 years. John Ghram ’64 replied, “Escorting Dixie Ann, a national water-skier, that was the highlight of Homecoming for me in 1963.”

It was such a delight to have been able to speak to some alumni and all their different perspectives on Homecoming. Pine Crest Homecoming has been a tradition that has withstood the test of time, and even some of the same activities we still participate in today were vividly present over 50 years ago.