20 seniors. 10 days. One goal. Raise money for charity.
Each fall, high schools nationwide nominate and ultimately select kings and queens as homecoming royalty. But unlike most schools, Southern Lehigh does not elect the yearly homecoming court through a typical popularity contest. Instead, the high school upholds a unique tradition of determining homecoming court members by the amount of money each nominated senior raises for a charity of their choice.
First, the senior class nominates 10 senior boys and 10 girls. Then, those 20 seniors each select a charity and have 10 days to raise money from the community, typically by promoting their charities on social media and selling baked goods to students and staff members within the school. The five boys and five girls who raise the most money become official members of the year’s homecoming court.
“I’ve been through four districts, and it’s kind of been a frustration of mine when it was just a straight popularity contest,” high school principal Mr. Joshua Miller said. “Sometimes you have somebody up there who is picked for popularity, but they don’t always have the other students in their best interest, or they’re not there for the school in any way, shape, or form.”
Since the tradition of fundraising began in 2008, Southern Lehigh students have raised a cumulative $282,061 for charity. This year, 18 seniors raised money for 16 charities such as Camelot for Children, the American Heart Association, Sassy Massey Smiles, Stop the Bleed, and Feeding America. For many, the opportunity to represent a charity also means the ability to represent those they love. Senior Jacalyn DeSimone, who lost her grandfather to Alzheimer’s in 2022, chose to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“It meant the world being able to support the Alzheimer’s Association,” DeSimone said. “I think the biggest thing is it just felt like I was honoring my grandpa and his legacy and everything he did for my family while he was living.”
Senior homecoming queen Ivory MoDavis shares a similar story, as her grandfather was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in 2022.
“Every day I’m reminded of the struggles that those with LBD and their families face,” MoDavis said.
In addition to charities for illnesses, senior homecoming king Chris Fritts chose to raise money for the Officer David M. Petzold Memorial Foundation.
“I chose the Officer David M. Petzold Memorial Foundation because my dad was partners with Officer Petzold at the Upper Saucon Police Department when he lost his life in 2006,” Fritts said. “Since then, both of my parents have been involved in the foundation, so choosing the foundation was a no-brainer.”
While homecoming is characterized by festivities like spirit week, the pep rally, the football game, and the dance, Southern Lehigh’s fundraising tradition benefits the community as a whole in a more tangible way. Students who represent the charities have the opportunity to raise awareness and money for the foundations that mean the most to them, while the rest of the school participates through giving.
“I think the fact that we have kids out there raising the amount of money they have for local charities that they’re passionate about is amazing,” Principal Miller said.