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Once Upon a HOCO: Last Spirit Week and Homecoming
As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, the rousing excitement of Spirit Week and Homecoming can be seen throughout the halls of AHS. For many, including me, this marks the ending of a cherished tradition—years spent dressing up, decorating the hallway, and dancing to “Mo Bamba.” This year’s festivities carried a bit of extra significance for the class of 2025, who approached their last Spirit Week and Homecoming with bittersweet energy.
Aurora High School's Spirit Week tradition dates back to the 1970s, and though it has evolved over the decades, its purpose remains the same: to build excitement leading up to Homecoming. According to Mrs. Dirda, a long-time teacher here at AHS, the tradition started as a way to unify the community and celebrate the school, and it continues to be a highlight for students today. “Seniors should look forward and take opportunities to participate in any activities,” she shared additionally, “Enjoy your senior year. It is the end of one stage of your life and you never get to do it again.” Well, what better way to commemorate your senior year than to get involved in one of the biggest school events of the year?
Pictures from Marla Edgecomb and Harrison Mullin
For seniors, Spirit Week has always been more than just dressing up. “We do Spirit Week to get people excited for Homecoming. Without it, the vibe wouldn’t be the same,” states fellow senior, Chloe Fienga, an avid lover of Spirit Week. Spirit Week is a build-up to the highly anticipated Friday night football game, followed by dancing and fun on Saturday night.
The excitement to dress up was evident this year. Homecoming Queen, Marla Edgecomb expressed her love for Spirit Week, even preferring it to the actual dance itself. “It’s one of the few times in your life that you can wear costumes and dress up just because, and I love taking advantage of this opportunity while I have the chance,” she shared.
Similarly, Senior Class President Harrison Mullin shared exactly just how much fun he had dressing up for the themes this year, "Especially since it was my last homecoming spirit week, I felt like I really needed to bring the energy and spirit."
Not everyone was entirely happy with the themes, though. Reagan Stock, a member of the student council, admitted that while she understood the themes were voted on, she wasn’t a fan of decades day. "I’ve spent all my years arguing that decades day needs to go. It’s past its time, and no one dresses up other than seniors," she said, suggesting a "Generation Day" instead, with each grade dressing up as a different life stage. Despite that, she enjoyed Country vs. Country Club Day the most. "It was my idea last year and this year, so I’m biased," she laughed.
It would be a shame not to mention the dress-ups of Griffin Welsh, the 2024 Homecoming King, who has loved dressing up for Spirit Week every year, and said, “It's so much fun coming to school with my own unique twist on the theme and seeing everyone's confused faces.” A notable instance of this would be when he dressed up as a Jersey Mike employee for Jersey Day. It’s rather sad to think that this sort of fun of the Spirit Week will be the last for many, including me.
Picture from Reagan Stock
Picture from Marla Edgecomb
The Homecoming dance itself, while a staple of the high school experience, holds a special place for seniors, as this might be the last time they ever attend one. Many reflected on the importance of enjoying the moment while it lasts. Welsh, the Homecoming King, described the euphoria of the evening: "It felt really euphoric being named Homecoming King. The amount of support from everyone felt amazing and really surprised me."
Edgecomb, still shocked to have been named Queen, shared a similar sentiment. "I was honestly shocked to even be nominated, and the fact that I have made such a large impact on so many people in our Greenmen community makes me so happy." Her surprise and joy reflected the importance of the connections she made in her short time at Aurora, having moved to the community just four years ago.
For Stock, this year’s dance was "fun and upbeat," though she would’ve liked shorter song playtimes. "A better DJ than other years for sure," she said, but she cherished seeing everyone dressed up and dancing their hearts out. Stock also had a unique way of remembering the night—capturing videos of her friends and other seniors dancing and compiling them for Instagram. "It’s fun to capture everyone having fun and dancing with their friends," she said.
Fienga summed up the spirit of the night: "I think that anything is the best if you make it that for yourself," a sentence I so wholeheartedly agree with.
Picture from @TTaylorAHS
Pictures from Harrison Mullin
For many seniors, Homecoming wasn’t just about the dance—it was about the memories made with friends. Mullin’s favorite part of the experience was decorating the senior hallway. "It definitely took a long time to finish, but I think it was the best hallway our grade has done," he said, reflecting on the effort and teamwork that went into making the week special.
Welsh loved seeing everyone let loose and have fun. "You really don't see anything like it any other time of year," he said, highlighting how Homecoming uniquely brings students together to celebrate.
Edgecomb’s favorite moment from the dance was dancing to "Shut Up and Dance" with her friends, a song they had just played in the marching band the day before. "Homecoming is a very unique environment to spend time with friends," she said, capturing the shared experience of celebration and immense fun that defined the night.
Similarly, Fienga’s highlight of the chaotically fun night was getting to dance to Pitbull and Bruno Mars, something she’s looked forward to every year since 9th grade.
As for me, my last Homecoming Spirit Week and dance will hold a special place in my heart. This was the last year I would be able to dress up for fun themes, get ready with my friends, take pictures, and eat dinner together. I still vividly remember my freshman year homecoming (inarguably the best one we’ve had so far), which took place outside at the Veterans Stadium due to COVID. We had fun activities with games, food trucks, a donut wall, Chick-Fil-A, etc. The week before that, I spent time after school decorating the freshman hallway, decking it out in everything Cinderella-related for the overall fairy tale theme. It is such a full-circle moment to realize that this year’s theme was also a fairy tale, and the hallway I had decorated this year, was the senior hallway instead. I believe the emphasis falls on making the best of your time and being present in the moment. It is so easy to get caught up in the what-ifs of the future and college for next year, that we don’t cherish the last year of our high school. Just as Mrs. Dirda and some of the other seniors mentioned, school events will be what you decide they will be. I decided that my last homecoming week/dance would be worthwhile, and it was.
Picture from me
Picture from me
Stock captured the essence of this sentiment perfectly. "School dances are what you make of them. You can’t have fun sitting in the cafeteria complaining," she said, noting that it takes a lot of time, energy, and people to make these events happen.
As the first semester of the school year nears its end, I wish to remind every senior (and upcoming seniors!) to please make the best of your time here at AHS. Spend time making memories and getting involved in school/ senior activities. Hopefully, the perspectives of several seniors help put into words just how much fun school activities can be if you decide they will be worthwhile.
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