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Grace Baldwin

Guest Columnist

Signs and Badges pleading for students to “Please Vote” have flooded the hallways of BHS this week. No, the students are not preparing for the election on November 6. These banners are for homecoming selection week. Everyone agrees that this year has certainly hosted its share of close competition among all grades.

On Monday, the schedule was slightly altered to accommodate a special homeroom session. During this time each homeroom held a preliminary election, selecting three females to compete for the court spaces. Each girl who was chosen to compete was given from that point until Friday morning to campaign. A brief meeting with all the nominees was held that evening explaining the rules of the election. The school policy doesn’t allow for giving out candy, so the candidates got creative. Snapback hats, badges, t-shirts, yo-yos, earrings, bracelets and other knickknacks circulated throughout the week.

I have to brag on the girls who ran this year. I felt like everyone ran a classy campaign. I heard no negative remarks between competitors. Also, I witnessed girls helping each other out by fixing fallen posters, or picking up dropped campaign supplies. To me, those things say a lot more about you and your character than how many votes you receive anyway. I know firsthand that how you present yourself throughout these few weeks will be remembered for far longer than what goodies you handed out. I still remember the way the seniors acted when I was a freshman, and I’m sure others do as well. The important thing to consider is that there can only be one queen, but the only way to be a true loser is to have a bad attitude.

Yesterday, everyone reported to homeroom once more to cast the final vote that would determine the 2012 court members. Every student was given an opportunity to vote for their choice of queen (one choice per voter). In addition to that, each underclassman is given a ballet where they choose a representative for their grade. As always, seniors will have three spots, and each underclass will have two. In the event of a tie, there may be additional spaces added. However, there were no ties this year.

During the day the votes were tallied and the court was announced over the intercom system in fifth period. But, the winner will remain a mystery until September 28, at halftime of the homecoming game. The freshman attendants this year are Katelyn Yates and Alie Farley. Sophomores: Kasey Barrett and Hope Hackney. Juniors: Taylor Runyon and Brayleigh Lowe. The three seniors up for the crown are Hope LeMaster, Shauna Steele, and Grace Baldwin (me). These groups of ladies are excited for the opportunity to represent their class and their school. The long week of campaigning will finally pay off when last year’s queen, Morgan Varney, passes the crown on to the next Miss Belfry High School.