The boys from the varsity football team play the role of coaches, leading their female classmates in the annual competition.  Many find this a big part of the entertainment, as some of the boys even imitate their own beloved coaches.  Both the boys and the girls are enthusiastic about this fun event, which brings the community together for a good cause.  

After the game, the field is littered with students from the junior and senior class in t-shirts, face paint, crazy hats, and fan gear as they take photos and enjoy the fun!   

On November 8th, 2022, Highlands upperclassmen lined the field for the annual Powderpuff game. Because the game was held on Election Day, everyone dressed in USA-themed attire, with Seniors wearing blue and Juniors wearing red. This year in particular, each shirt included a personalized number on the back and the traditional PPF logo on the front, which was outlined with a white heart in remembrance of Lilliana Schalck, a student from the class of 2023 who passed unexpectedly during their eighth-grade year in 2019.  

We spoke with Kym Grillot, the Senior class sponsor for the Powderpuff game, who also taught the class that chose the Powderpuff shirt and rubber bracelet as representation for the class of 2023 to donate to Highlands’ Stories.  

She said: “I taught NKU Dual Credit Pop Culture and in that class, there is a unit on Community, Rituals, and Traditions. In this unit, we investigate the importance of these things to the study of Pop Culture and how our shared experiences help to create a bond that people will remember long after they leave Highlands...Students got in groups to brainstorm ideas that represented the Class of 2023 and their experiences while in high school.”  

 “...Those items represent a continuation of the Highlands bond of community and tradition that the Class of 2023 shared, and will go on to share, in their adult lives... Lilliana is part of the Class of 2023 community, and the students adapted the Powderpuff Football traditions we have cherished for so long and made it their own.”  

Lilliana’s main message her mom shared with us was: Live your best life, anything can be fixed with the right attitude. Don't worry about what everybody else is doing and thinking. If you see somebody that needs help, just be aware, just connect with people... Become iconic, there’s nothing that you can’t do if you put your mind to it, if you have a good attitude. 

These Powderpuff items represent the deep sense of community and tradition that the Class of 2023 has embraced throughout their high school years. These items served as more than just symbols of school spirit; they also carried the weight of a beloved classmate's memory, who left an indelible mark on the Highlands community. They've adapted and personalized these traditions, making them their own, and ensuring that Lilliana remains a cherished part of their collective identity.