By Cathy Spaulding
Phoenix Staff Writer
October 03, 2008 11:25 pm
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“Prepare for Glory” was the theme of the 2008 Hilldale High School football homecoming, and it took students nearly a month to do just that, according to Hilldale Student Council President Erielle Buckmaster.
“It took us three and a half weeks to work on this, and we stayed up here to 7 or 7:30 each night this week to set it up,” she said after the homecoming coronation ceremony Friday at the Hilldale Event Center.
VIDEO (Story continues below): Click below to watch the Hilldale High School homecoming coronation. Kyli Hickman homecoming queen.
Click here to see the accompanying photo gallery.
The Event Center’s stage did look glorious as senior Nate Lawson crowned senior Kyli Hickman 2008 homecoming queen, twirled her around and kissed her hand. Hickman wore a white gown with a beaded, patterned bodice. She was surrounded by attendants in golden gowns.
“It was really special,” Kyli said. “It was unexpected, but I was really excited. This is my last year at Hilldale, and it’s going to be wonderful.”
The queen’s mother, Shelly Hickman, said Kyli, a varsity cheerleader, was at the hairdresser’s at 9:15 a.m. Friday.
“We had company coming in to spend the night with us,” she said. “We got to school at 11:15 a.m.”
Kyli said she was fortunate that her homecoming gown was the first one she tried on.
One thing different about this year’s coronation was an additional flower girl. Bailey Harmon and Alyssa Stores, both dressed in white, were this year’s flower girls. Kyli said Bailey is one of her cousins and Alyssa is the stepsister of Lawson, the homecoming queen escort.
Several students agreed the coronation looked especially wonderful this year.
“I had to cry three times for the queen and her court,” said junior class vice president Tiffany Rice. “They are really beautiful, so stunning.”
Instead of wearing gowns in the school colors of red and white, Kyli’s attendants wore golden gowns. Rice said the color scheme reflected this year’s theme “Prepare for Glory,” the tagline for the 2006 action movie “300.”
The movie depicted the Battle at Thermopylae in 480 B.C., in which 300 Spartans valiantly fought against 10,000 Persians. The Spartans lost, but their courage inspired other Greeks to win battles against the Persians the following year.
Spirit banners lining the front of the Event Center stage reflected the “300” theme by depicting Hilldale Hornets in Spartan war helmets doing battle against Broken Bow Savages. Hilldale went up against Broken Bow in Friday night’s Homecoming football game.
The junior class won the spirit banner contest by depicting Spartan Hornets kicking the Savages down a black hole.
Hilldale homecoming court
QUEEN: Kyli Hickman; escort, Nate Lawson.
FRESHMAN: Tess Brantley; escort, Tanner Mullens.
SOPHOMORE: Kaylie Mills; escort, Ryan Chang.
JUNIOR: Jessi Grandstaff; escort, Chandler Foltz.
SENIOR: Gretchen Yeabower; escort, Ty Smallwood.
FLOWER GIRLS: Bailey Harmon and Alyssa Stores.
CROWN BEARER: Ty O’Neal.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Hilldale High School homecoming queen Kyli Hickman is introduced to the crowd as senior Nate Lawson escorts her during coronation ceremonies Friday at the Hilldale Event Center.
Hilldale High School seniors show their school spirit during the homecoming coronation Friday.