With Homecoming underway, seniors are able to reflect on the past four years and look back at the impacts Atlantic High School has had on their lives. From football to band, the whole school joins together to celebrate the school during Homecoming week.
Number 73 on the football field, senior Thomas Leonard is excited about Homecoming. His favorite parts of Homecoming are the dance, the game, and dress-up days. Leonard said, “I love dress-up days. I think we should have more of them.” He enjoys the dance as well, and said, “No matter if it’s dancing by myself, or dancing in the mosh pit, it’s gonna be fun.” Leonard has been involved in football for six years, and chose to stay involved because “the coaches are great.” This year the team had the opportunity to “coach little kids,” with Leonard remembering “being that little kid and getting coached by the high schoolers.” He enjoys “getting to return the favor,” and teaching the kids about football.
Standing tall with a foot-long plume, senior Addie Welsh is a clarinet with the AHS marching band. Welsh tries to be as involved as possible with Homecoming, and said “I loved building the Trojan on last year’s float.” With that tying into her favorite memory, the 2022-23 school year float building. Welsh is looking forward to float building this year and continuing the senior’s winning streak.
Whether or not you’re in the stands or on the field, Homecoming impacts everyone. Seniors Thomas Leonard and Addie Welsh have both faced the different impacts and effects Homecoming has had on their lives.
Seniors Say Goodbye to Homecoming
From football to band, seniors Thomas Leonard and Addie Welsh reflect back on their high school homecomings.
September 17, 2023
More to Discover
About the Contributors
Alix Nath, AHS Needle & Broadcasting Editor
Alix Nath is a senior at Atlantic High School and is involved in various activities including AHS journalism, Quill and Scroll, National Honor Society, and Speech and Debate. Nath is a senior editor for AHS Needle, they also take photos for the website. Nath spoke about their "most enjoyable" subject in school: art and journalism. They said, "I truly enjoy showing different perspectives and I think using art as a medium to do that and writing to do that is important to see". Nath gives examples of what types of pictures they want to capture, "While the marching band is warming up" and "If it's a musical or play I'll go backstage, get some photos". Nath says they want to "Shine a light on people and things you don't normally get to see in the spotlight". They're working on a behind-the-scenes in Journalism and a "Free speech in a Small Town" piece. Nath says "Once I do leave it's going to be the people I miss". They said they were going to miss the people who "Structured my education and have had a lot of impact on me, as well as friends."
Story by Bailey Grieshaber
Nissa Molgaard, Broadcasting/Yearbook
“Great people who happen to be great speakers.” This is a quote that junior Nissa Molgaard, 16, lives by as it reflects her passion for speech and debate. She joined journalism, because it gave her the freedom to do things that she enjoyed, photography, and talking with friends. Molgaard has published two stories, the 100 Word Rant and Speech & Debate. Along with many photo entries.
Molgaard has been involved in Debate since her freshman year and went to Nationals last year in extemp commentary and spontaneous speaking, and has been doing Debate since Freshman year. “I’ve done Extemp, Congress, Spontaneous Speaking, Expository Speaking, and Public Forum,” Molgaard said. She is planning on doing Info, Congress, and Extemporaneous Speaking. She is the Extemp Captian this year. She also loves “public speaking, gaining credibility, and tips on how to be a better speaker.”
Her accomplishments include advancing to “A” House of Congressional Debate, her sophomore year, which was her first year of Congressional Debate. “This year, I hope to win some awards, and my goal is to try to win in the categories I’m in; Congress, Extemp, and Info.”
In Molgaard’s free time, you can find her making origami, climbing trees, or hanging out with friends. After high school, Molgaard plans on going to college to study law.
Story by Jody Williams
Rylee • Sep 25, 2023 at 10:27 am
I really think this story touched my heart, and it made me realize we aren’t gonna be in high school forever, shared the fun sports the seniors enjoy and the time they have for the last time.