The Orange High School Prom King and Queen were announced on Saturday, April 14. The winners were Blake Hall and Grace Huskins. Nominations for king and queen were done weeks prior to the event. The seniors were asked to nominate any girl and boy in the senior class.
The nominees for prom queen were seniors Chenoa Daye, Chasity Hayes, and Grace Huskins, and the nominees for king were seniors Blake Hall and Andrew Toney. The DJ announced the winners- Hall and Huskins. The winners got a sash and a crown stating their new title.
Winner Grace Huskins said that when she was nominated she was surprised because she did not expect to win due to the strong competition. "I heard my name being called and I thought that they were just announcing nominees, and then I turned to Nic [Peckman, her boyfriend] and said, ‘When are they saying the winner?’ and he said that it was me, that I was the winner!” said Huskins. She said she was in pure shock when her name was announced and that she was happy to have won.
Sophomore Megan Joyner said that it felt like a great accomplishment being part of the winning team.
During halftime, the Mr. Panther nominees were announced. The winner was Brandon Frye who was crowned by 2012 Homecoming Queen Emma Schmid.
The Powder Bowl was one to remember because, for the first time in five years, the seniors beat the juniors. The score was 24-8 in favor of the seniors. The girls gave it all they had and at the end the seniors won, showing their senior pride. The seniors were coached by Taigee Cooper, Hunter Wagoner and Taylor Harris.
Senior Evonna Sampedro said that it was a great accomplishment and she was overjoyed to be part of the senior team, and even joked that the senior team couldn’t have done it without her.
The Orange High School Panthers beat the Northern Vance Vikings on their home turf Friday, September 21. It was the Homecoming game for the Panthers and they led the team to victory by a dominating winning 48-7. OHS students showed their pride by wearing orange and black and cheering on the team.
At the beginning of the game, a moment of silence was held for senior Desean Motley's girlfriend, a student at Middle College High School at DurhamTech, who passed away after being involved in a car crash the night before. Motley told another newspaper that he was playing for her and representing her on the field.
The Panthers played so well that they barely let the Vikings score. During the first half of the game the score was tied, but later junior Patrick Pettiford put the Panthers back on top with the help of sophomore Juan Torres.
During halftime, the Homecoming Court nominees came out onto the field and the announcer proclaimed the 2012 Homecoming Queen, Emma Schmid. She was crowned by Anna Frederick, last year's homecoming queen.
Orange had a strong lead for the rest of the game. The crowd cheered and was overly excited as the Panthers dominated the field almost the entire time. The Panthers officially won the game, making their school proud.
October 5th, Orange High School held their annual Ag Day for the students. “It was an all around good time!” exclaimed Coach Brian Grant. Throughout the day, students showed their country pride by participating in pie eating contests, barbecue cooking contests, and showing off prize winning animals.So many activities were introduced this year that have never been included in the past. Thanks to all the Ag students, this was definitely an Ag day to remember.
By gathering information from the students, Den Echoes was able to understand what Ag day was all about.
“You're going to love the farm smell!” Senior Taylor Reynolds said ironically. However, there is some truth in the statement; the air outside of the barn was filled with the sweet smell of barbecue as students brought tents to make their own meals. Some students even bring their farm animals to show off in the Ag Barn.
Aside from country pride, representing breast cancer awareness is also a big part of Ag day. For only one dollar, the cheerleaders took the liberty of spraying students' hair pink for the cause, raising money to donate to a breast cancer foundation. Almost all of the OHS clubs had an organized booth during Ag day as the Ag building was full of candies, deserts or handmade goods.
A new addition to the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) booth was a corn hole competition, which consist of throwing a bean bag on acutout plywood board and trying to get the bean bag through the hole, as well as their traditional sale of OHS apparel.
Students had the opportunity to show their strength by bench pressing their top weight, a competition supervised by Coach Bobby Shriner. Ag day did not only feature physical contests, but talent contests as well. The newly instated talent show was a hit as a crowd gathered as OHS students and teachers showed off their skills. Towards the end, students were able to get up on stage and show off the best of their abilities.
“Folks that don't usually get to experience Ag activities had a blast!” Senior Tristan Martin exclaimed, showing the enthusiasm that was mirrored by many who attended.
Women - Rebecca Huffman
Congratulations to the winners!
Men - Christian Walker, junior, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood
Congratulations to the winners!
Female Winner - Ashley Hinkle, senior
- Male Pajama Day Winner Silas Anderson models his pink footie pajamas.
- Female Pajama Day Winner Irene Sanchez models her Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pajamas.
Members of the Court are as followed:
Freshman - Aisha Mayo, Jada Whitted
Sophomores - Chesnie Boyce, Shakiya Jones, Tyler Woods
Juniors - Kacie Chamberlain, Nycol Lyons, Natalia Phillips
Prince and Princess: Vanessa Roberts escorted by Christopher Blacknell
Seniors - Brooke Copeland, Chasity Hayes, Emma Schmid, Grace Huskins, Indiana Reid-Shaw, Jamie Lea, Jordan Sneed, Karla Lozano, K'Lin Bradsher, MJ Bumgarner, Sonja Colson, Tyressa Smith
Before the game, Den Echoes met up with some members of the Homecoming Court to see how the girls were feeling. Most of them were nervous even though they weren’t seniors up for the winning spot. Kacie Chamberlain, a junior said, “It makes me feel proud that my junior classmates voted for me.”
Senior Emma Schmid said, “I would be really excited if I won Homecoming Queen, to know that enough people voted for me.”
Underclassman Tyler Woods, sophomore, said, “I’m happy and surprised that I’m in the homecoming court, I just hope that I don’t trip and fall on my face.” Luckily, that didn't happen and the evening went smoothly for all involved.
When asked about one of the two freshman, Aisha Mayo, said, “Being new to the school this year I am happy that my classmates voted for me, and that I get to be a part of the homecoming court this year!”
Mr. Marsh spent most of the pep rally announcing the senior athletes from each sports team. Some of the football players bumped chests with him or with their teammates. The cheerleaders lined up in two lines facing each other, and shook their pom-poms as the athletes ran between them. Sports that were announced included the cross-country team, volleyball team, and football team. The last team to be announced was the cheerleading team.
The biggest event at the pep rally was the flex contest. It took place at the end of the pep rally and it was the event students were most enthusiastic about. Two male students from each grade went to the middle of the auditorium and showed off their muscles, cheerleader jumps, and dancing ability. Students decided who the winners were by cheering, and Mr. Marsh decided that there was a three-way tie.
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Another popular event at the pep rally was when Mr. Marsh demonstrated the difference between how Orange plays football and how Northern Vance’s team plays football. When the OHS football team runs in reverse one person runs backward and throws the ball forward to another team member. When Northern Vance plays football the whole team shuffles backward together.
Students thought that the pep rally was better than the pep rallies last year. Josh Martin, a sophomore, said that the pep rally was “revolutionary.” Hannah Link, also a sophomore, said that it was “better than before.” Mr. Marsh thought that it went well, but it was long.
The student parking lot was filled with cars and people including small children, students, parents, grandparents, and alumni. The smell of food filled the air as grills were being fired and tables of food were set up. Cars pulled up with music blasting and people scattered around the trunks enjoying refreshments and food, fueling for the game ahead. People gathered in groups to socialize and others wandered the parking lot looking at the festivities.
Brooklyn Hux, freshman, said her favorite part of the tailgate was “hanging out with my friends.” There were games and activities including football and corn hole. People were dressed to show their Panther pride with black and orange shirts, orange hair, and even face paint. Students painted their stomachs and cheerleaders got ready for the game.
There were club booths and tables set up selling merchandise. The FCCLA club was selling meat sticks for one dollar in order to fundraise for their club and a trip to the National Cluster Meeting, an organization to aid leadership in schools. Another table was selling OHS apparel. The OHS yearbook booth was giving out surveys for OHS alumni to fill out for their 50th edition yearbook.
Portable grills littered the parking lot and smoke funneled into the sky. Snacks and food were everywhere. There was a table frying fish and making french fries. When asked about the tailgate, sophomore Michaela Shriner said, “I like to smell the food.”
As the game drew near, homecoming court nominees appeared in their dresses and lines grew as tickets began to sell. People piled into the stadium as the tailgate came to an end.
September 21, during halftime, the long awaited Homecoming Queen was named. Emma Schmid, a senior, ended up taking the crown. The crowd went crazy as they called her name and she looked very excited about the win.When Schmid was asked about her win she replied, “I was shocked!” She also said she was surprised.
If someone else could have won she would've guessed Chasity Hayes. Schmid wasn’t really sure why she had won but she was very honored that she did. At Orange High School she is involved with swim team and a part of the Honors Technical Society. After high school,her plans include going to the UNC- Wilmington. Although shy at times she has a very bubbly personality.
To win Homecoming Queen, every grade votes for the girl they want to be nominated in their own grade. Then, later, all grade levels vote for the senior they want to win. Only a senior can win Homecoming Queen. Schmid was against some very tough competitors such as Chastity Hayes, MJ Bumgarner, Grace Huskins, and Indiana Reid-Shaw.
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The dates are as followed:
Monday - Pajama Day
Tuesday - Wacky Tacky Day
Wednesday - Character Day
Thursday - Throwback Thursday/Blast from the Past
Friday - Country Fried Friday (Ag Day)
When Associate Principle Okun was asked about this change, he replied, "Traditionally it's during homecoming week - but we've never had it this early. We wanted to do it later, have a little more time to get ready for it and let the school year settle down a little bit too." Mr. Okun also foreshadowed an exciting week at Orange. "It's gonna be the week of the senior night football game, and we're also having a dance, all in the same week." He also adds, "SGA decides what days of spirit week we have."