Five MHS seniors have been nominated for this year’s Homecoming Court. Get to know each candidate. Voting will take place next Wednesday.
Why did you choose to run?
Noelle Elenz: I actually did it because I just thought ‘Why not?’ We’re only in high school one time, so might as well make the best of it, and I was going to run with my best friend Londyn.
Olivia Hill: I chose to run because I wanted to represent my school in a positive way and be a part of something that brings everyone together which I feel is Homecoming. At the beginning of the trimester, everyone is really excited for Homecoming and campaigning is really fun and shows school spirit, and I really wanted to show mine.
Saniya Lipscomb: I chose to run because I wanted to make a lasting impact on my school. Not only did I want it to go outside of the high school and outside of just senior year and my four years at this school, but I wanted to keep my legacy here.
Annette Prieto: I chose to run for Homecoming court because it’s always been that I’ve seen it’s always looked fun. When I found out all my friends wanted to run as well, we decided to run together and make it a fun experience for us.
Londyn Pulphus: I chose to run because I thought it would be a good experience for my senior year, and I want to have fun for my last year. It’s enjoyable for me to give out candy and have posters. It’s just a fun experience for me. I’m looking forward to making a lot of memories and getting all the pictures, so I can look back at them in the future.
Q: What traits do you feel qualify you to be homecoming queen
Noelle: I feel like I am very involved in the school. I do my best in my classes and my extracurriculars and I try to be kind to everyone and I think that those are all good traits of a Homecoming queen. Kindness, generosity, and such, and I think pretty much inclusion of all.
Olivia: I think I am a kind, approachable and a supportive person and I always try to encourage others and uplift them. I always try to get people involved and make them feel included. And I believe the homecoming queen should reflect that into the school spirit. The homecoming queen is the face of the school, and I can be that face.
Saniya: I think I really carry a leadership trait, especially among the activities I’m in at school like my extracurriculars and my sports. I also think I am a very outgoing and genuine person to the people around me. I really do want to do as much as I can to help everyone out.
Annette: I’m a very respectful person. I am also very involved in school. I help out a lot. I also am open to hearing everybody’s opinions and everybody’s voice.
Londyn: I think I’m very generous and I try to do good in school, and I don’t have any disciplinary offenses, and I’m friendly.
Q: Describe how you felt when you found out you were nominated ?
Noelle: I felt nervous at first. Because when I first got the thing I was like, do I really want to do this? Should I have done this? Then, once I found out that Londyn had got it with me I felt excited. I actually feel really excited.
Olivia: I was so excited and ecstatic to run for homecoming queen. I had endless ideas for what to do for my campaign and honestly I was so surprised because I didn’t know people felt that way about me to choose me. I was nominated during second hour in Mr. Sterling’s class. He pulled me out and said I was in trouble, but then Mrs. Kaiser and Mrs. Alteiri and then they gave me a rose and Crumbl Cookie. It was confetti flavored.
Saniya: When I found out I was nominated I was so happy. I felt so special especially in the way they told me. They did a “promposal” asking me if I would accept being on the homecoming court.
Annette: I was very excited. I didn’t really think I would get nominated, it was very exciting that I was.
Londyn: I was surprised, but I also didn’t know who all applied. I didn’t know a lot of people applied, so I didn’t really think it was that serious. But then people were congratulating me, and I was like ‘Oh, wait. Thank you,’ so I felt proud of myself and also surprised. [Prior to applying], I felt like I wasn’t going to get in because there’s a lot of people, but then I also didn’t realize a lot of people had already applied. So, I just applied on a whim. I didn’t really think too much about it, so when I got in, I was really surprised.
Q: What part of Homecoming week are you most excited for ?
Noelle: I am so excited for the Football game on Friday. I don’t care what happens. I love everyone on the court but I’m just excited to be on that field with a bouquet of flowers and a pretty dress on.
Olivia: I’m most excited about spirit week. I’m excited for character day, I think I want to be Lorax. I think character day will be fun. I’m excited about spirit week honestly and the pep rally and the football game. Because that’s when everyone is together and then because I’m on the cheer team, I get to dance in front of everyone and I love that.
Saniya: I’m really excited for the game. The game really excited me apart from the dance. I feel like that’s the best part with the pep rally.
Annette: I’m most excited for either the parade or the pep rally.
Londyn: I’m excited for the parade because I want to throw candy and be on the float and wear a cute dress.
Q: What extracurricular activities are you a part of at school?
Noelle: I’m a part of the SAVE promise club, orchestra, freshman mentors, National Honors Society, and I participate in soccer, swimming and track.
Olivia: I’m involved in the MHS cheer team. I’m actually the captain, woo! I’m in Spanish Club, Freshman Mentors, and National Honors Society.
Saniya: Right now I’m a part of the Merrillville High School Gymnastics team, the track team, the National Honors Society, Spanish Club, and that’s it.
Annette: I’m a varsity cheer captain, swim team, softball team, Spanish Club, Student Government, and I also help you with the FCCLA and peer tutoring on the side.
Londyn: I do marching band, pep band, I’m in SAVE Promise Club, and I’m Vice President of National Honors Society. I do tennis, too.
Q: What would winning mean to you?
Noelle: Winning means to me that like, it’s not like a competition to me necessarily it’s just having fun. I really just mean that my efforts got good feedback and that people see and care. It would mean a lot to me to win but I’m not gonna get mad if I don’t win.
Olivia: Winning would mean so much to me. Not only because of the queen title, but because my classmates truly support and like me as a person and it would really emphasise my kindness, school pride and positivity throughout the entire school.
Saniya: Winning would just mean the impression I think I’ve made on everyone else around me is truly met.
Annette: Winning is just an overall good feeling. You work so hard for something and once you finally achieve it. It’s a very nice feeling to win.
Londyn: It means that I represent Merrillville in a positive way, and it means that I would be clearly important to the student body that they voted for me, and I would be very grateful and happy for the title.
