On Sep. 13, East Lansing High School was swept away by a sea of blue and white. Clad in Trojan gear, students swarmed the hallways, all with a single location in mind. 

The gym.

The closer the masses got to those doors, the more the excitement built. The pounding of the drumline marched in the crowds, spirit beads bouncing up and down on their necks. Scrambling into the bleachers, ELHS students of all grades geared up for the homecoming festivities to come.

School spirit was proudly displayed on faces, in words, and in the energy that radiated throughout the space.

That pride for your school is something ELHS needs to thrive, and this year’s homecoming season was no exception.

Part 1 – Sep 9-12

The beginning of the homecoming celebration is spirit week. Every year, spirit week is a time where staff and students can dress according to themes decided by ELHS’s Student Congress. Some prefer to take a simpler route by throwing on a backwards hat for Adam Sandler day or a flannel for Western Out. 

But for student body vice-president Layniee Nixon (12), it’s all about being over the top.

“I am the most extra person ever when it comes to spirit week,” Nixon said.

From going out days prior to buy clothing and accessories to having an entire drawer in her room dedicated to spirit week items, Nixon looks forward to spirit week every year.

“It’s so fun to be able to wear the craziest stuff ever at school and it’s completely normal during spirit week,” Nixon said. “It’s something so small, but I love participating in it.”

As someone who is on student council and a member of the student section organization, Nixon is able to be involved in the decision making for these days, as well as the themes for sporting events. When making these choices, Nixon and her peers have to carefully factor in the inclusivity of the themes. To make the week even more accessible to everyone, Student Congress made the decision a few years back to have an alternate blue and white theme added to all days of the week.

“To get more people to participate we need to make the themes more participatory,” Nixon said. “There’s a lot of things that we can’t do because we have to be super inclusive and make sure that our themes don’t have any bias in them whatsoever.”

This can often lead to problems in deciding days that will be accessible, but also exciting for the school to participate in.

For Student Congress member Nola Moore (11), this is exactly the case.

“I feel like from a student’s perspective a lot of the stuff we do is boring, but we literally can’t do anything else,” Moore said. “[Selecting inclusive themes] is for the best but it also means we have to cut out half the ideas we have.”

But this doesn’t mean school spirit has suffered. Many members of Student Congress, including Nixon, noticed higher levels of participation than in previous years.

“Seeing everyone’s different take on the theme is really fun,” Nixon said. “This year we had a lot more inclusive themes, so a lot more people participated. Walking in the hallways during [Adam Sandler day] and seeing everyone in baggy shorts and a hat is so cute.”

Part 2 – Sep 13

When spirit week came to its close, marked by the traditional blue and white theme, the passion of the week didn’t dwindle. On Friday, the homecoming celebrations began with the pep assembly.

This 50 minute long gathering was full of everything from the student vs.. staff volleyball game to Trojan TRUE drawings to performances by various teams around the school.

Waiting at the back entrance to the gym stood the 21 person strong homecoming court, organized by Moore and junior class president, Jessica Mielock (11).

While making sure everyone was in their right place, Moore and Mielock were able to take in the assembly from a perspective not every student is able to get.

“I really like how connected everyone feels [at the pep assembly],” Moore said. “Everyone’s there just having a good time and getting loud. It’s such a positive environment.”

The assembly jumped straight into recognition of clubs and teams, announced by history teacher Jeffrey Lyon. Traditionally, teams would stand around the indoor track and cheer together when mentioned. This year, everyone was required to remain in the bleachers, leading to some reluctance to stand when appreciation came their way.

But standing proudly on the gym floor, all dressed in pink shirts, was the varsity volleyball team.

As they geared up to play, shouts of support from their peers bounced around the room. From quick serves to missed passes, the ten minute game ultimately ended in the student’s favor.

After a rapid tear down of the net and rolling out of the mats, the cheerleaders took to the floor, performing a whole group routine to “Toxic” by Britney Spears and a senior performance to “Get it Sexxy” by Sexyy Red.

Finishing their presentation to rounds of applause, the mats were rolled up just as quickly as they were put out, clearing the way for the 2024 homecoming court.

And that space was certainly needed, especially for Henry Mahler (12) and his partner, Sam Haider (12), who sprung onto the gym floor on exercise balls.

“To this day, I don’t know if that was a good idea or not,” Mahler said.

The goal was to “be a little different,” for Mahler and Haider, which seemed to be a shared sentiment among court. Scooters, crowns, and even a shopping cart were all props used to make performances just a little more fun for not only the court themselves, but for the crowds watching too.

After every group had their time in the spotlight, the dance team took position for one of their two performances of the day. The two-year-old team did a routine to “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce, which was partially choreographed by team captain Elaina Andrews (12).

For Andrews, the opportunity to perform at assemblies is exciting, as it reveals the hard work the team puts into dance.

“It’s really nice being able to showcase that hey, this is real,” Andrews said. “This is an activity. You can even consider it a sport. We are hard workers, and we do things that require technique and skill.”

As the team left the floor, student section coordinator, Madelyn Zink, and members of the student spirit club sectioned off into different parts of the gym to lead the whole school in cheers. This new addition to the assembly was something club members, such as Mielock, took great pride in.

“I think it’s most rewarding when you get to see people enjoying [our work], especially when everyone was really happy to stand up and start chanting,” Mielock said.

After cries of the “Trojan Rumble” and ‘Give me a T!’ diminished, the drumline assembled to close out the rally.

On most days, students would have rushed out as soon as possible, eager to get home or to practice.  But on this day, many stuck around to get ready for the parade to come. Trailers donned streamers and balloons, glitter was applied to cheeks, and signs were drawn.  At 5:30 sharp, the procession was off, headed by East Lansing’s very own marching band.

But five members were missing from the group.

One of those people was court member Zoe Yingling (12).

Instead of donning her uniform and instrument, Yingling sat atop a red convertible in an orange sequined dress, tossing candy to people who lined the streets.

For Yingling a special sense of pride came with making it on court with four other band members.

“It’s not a tradition for a lot of people on band to get in, but it’s kind of common since we probably know the most underclassmen out of everybody,” Yingling said. “I was hopeful because it’s fun when we all get on together.”

Mixed among the convertibles were trucks and trailers chock full of athletes and club members, some of their students spilling out onto the streets. As the parade made its way through the city’s core, candy littering the road behind it, East Lansing pride was showered from its students onto the community.

When the mile and a half long procession concluded an hour after its start, community members and students alike made their way to the football stands, filling the bleachers with blue and white.

At the front of the stands stood student section leaders, including social media committee member Abbrey Gibson (12).

When Gibson first heard of the club, she applied in hopes of boosting the hype of school spirit.

And she wasn’t let down.

“What’s most rewarding is seeing everybody in the student body really channeling the school spirit more than in previous years,” Gibson said. “The student section is really helpful to get things flowing and keep the spirit throughout the whole game.”

Even though her primary focus is the social media aspect of the club, Gibson, joined by others in the organization, set the example at games by leading cheers and controlling the crowds.

“I try to be Trojan TRUE as much as possible,” Gibson said. “I try to include everybody in everything and make sure everybody in the school feels welcome.”

Mielock also joined the club this summer, taking on a role in the banner committee. She also feels that the club makes students feel welcomed and excited at games.

“[The student section club] is a way to try and make sure that we aren’t being exclusive, because we’re an inclusive community,” Mielock said. If we’re doing stuff that people might not be able to participate in, the less you feel like you belong here.”

Making the student spectators feel included isn’t the only goal of the student section, they also ensure groups such as the band and dance team are treated with respect during their performances by mandating everyone to sit at halftime.

On to the field marched the band, members of court sticking out in their multicolored dresses, suits, and ties.

“I had that little solo moment so that was kind of magical,” Yingling said. “I got to go up and play this cool thing in my cool dress in front of a really big audience. I really enjoyed it.”

When the performance ended, band court members rushed off the field to join the rest of the group, who were all announced to the community in their pairs.

As the evening progressed, school spirit improved, as well as the score. At the end of the night, East Lansing went home the victors with 38 points to Grand Ledge’s 21.

Part 3 – Sep 14

With the sun setting on the horizon, cars rolled into the parking lots of ELHS. Stepping out onto the pavement dressed to the nines, students made their way to the cafeteria for the 2024 homecoming dance. Waiting for friends to keep trickling in fashionably late, students took in the space, decorated to the theme “Here Comes the Sun.”

In a crowd full of heels, Abby Minnick (12) was one of few with sneakers on.

“I always wear tennis shoes that way my endurance can last longer,” Minnick said. “I am a big dancer. I love jumping around and having fun.”

Running around to find all her friends, Minnick danced with anyone and everyone she could, enjoying her last homecoming to the fullest.

For Minnick, this homecoming was just a bit different than before.

“When I saw my name getting closer and closer, the feeling of wanting to be on [court] increased,” Minnick said.

But Minnick’s perspective towards court didn’t start out like this, but her sister’s did.

“Originally going into it, I didn’t really care to be on it or not be on it,” Minnick said. “It was more of a bigger deal for my sisters because they really wanted me to be on it since they weren’t.”

Regardless of being on court or not, Minnick knew she would enjoy the dance, just as she has with all the ones prior.

“What you think of the dance going into it is how it will play out,” Minnick said. “I knew I was going to have fun and I did have fun, whereas if you think it’s going to be boring, you’re not going to have fun.”

On the other hand, dances were never a stand out source of fun for Mahler, but this year that feeling changed.

“I haven’t been the biggest fan of school dances, but this one was really fun,” Mahler said. “Being on court and investing into the school spirit made it a more enjoyable experience. I’m glad I got to be a part of it.”

Before the dancing really got started, members on court were recognized for the final time by junior class treasurer Liam Preisser (11).

With multicolored lights shining down on them, court members completed their last handshakes in between lines of dressed up peers. When these lines converged, the thrill of the night ensued. 

The dance may have only gone on for an hour or two afterwards, but the school spirit felt during that night and that week will be carried throughout the rest of the year.

“School spirit is saying you’re from East Lansing High School with a smile on your face,” Mielock said. “We’re great at academics, we’re great at clubs, we have publications that are award winning, we have student unions, we have state championship potential teams here. To be able to say that you’re from East Lansing high school is amazing.”