For the first time since 2019, Turlock High School’s fall homecoming celebrations are being held at full capacity. The theme for the upcoming week’s festivities is “We’ve Got the Beat,” which encourages campus community members to dress up each day according to different musical references. The week’s events will culminate on Friday with the crowning of homecoming royalty.
This year’s 10 homecoming court nominees were decided upon by the THS Senior Class. Nominees must meet the criteria of being a senior, being a member of a THS club or participate in athletics, and they must be academically eligible. The 10 nominees are Abigail Wenstrand, Atziry Virrueta, Jethzali Maldonado, Amirah Richardson, Alexis Goularte, Ashley Pannell, Princess Madrigal, Vivianna Quintero, Jem Perez and Mia Garibay.
Atziry Virrueta is the president of the THS Hispanic Youth Leadership Council (HYLC). She also serves a recreational leader at the campus’ after-school program.
Wenstrand is the president and founder of Climbing Club and is a member of Link Crew. She shared some of her favorite hobbies.
“I work for and climb at Alpine Climbing gym in Ripon. When I am not at school or work, I love to travel and see the world or spending time in the mountains skiing and hiking with family and friends,” Wenstrand said.
Maldonado is a member of HYLC, Link Crew, FFA, the Interact Club and Key Club.
She explained that she is most passionate about the community service projects she is involved with through her Key Club membership.
Goularte is a THS basketball player, swimmer and track athlete. She is also involved in Relay for Life, the Block T athletics club, Kitchens for Change, and Black Student Union (BSU). She is also the ASB secretary. Some of her favorite activities and hobbies away from school include baking, spending time with family, working out and shopping.
Richardson is on the THS cheer team, a Link Crew member, the senior commissioner for Turlock High ASB, an event coordinator for Relay for Life, the social media coordinator for Kitchens For Change and Block T clubs, and is the class commissioner for the THS Student Council. Additionally, she has been involved in dance for over 10 years, has played softball for nine years and has made a tradition of giving to the homeless during the holiday season.
Garibay is on the THS cheer squad, a member of Link Crew and BSU and is involved in Relay for Life. She explained that she maintains community involvement away from campus as well.
“I train kids at a boxing gym. In my free time I feed the homeless and, in the winter, we volunteer to give them blankets. I am also in a youth group and mentor kids that are struggling. I tutor the kids after school,” Garibay said.
Pannell is a volleyball player at THS. Her activities and hobbies include being involved in her church youth group and the Young Life youth Christian organization.
Perez is a member of THS choir, the school’s branch of the National Alliance of Mental Illness initiative, HYLC and the THS Progressive Club. Additionally, Perez serves as the president of the THS Gay Straight Alliance. Perez is involved in activism and is passionate about photography, traveling, cooking, singing, listening to music and social media management.
Madrigal is also a THS volleyball player, along with being a member of the Link Crew and FFA. She is also a travel volleyball player, a member of the New Life youth group and works at the Heaven Snow shaved ice truck.
Quintero is involved in Block T, Kitchens for Change, Link Crew, the SmartStart career club, the Kindness Club, Relay for Life and swimming. Outside of school, she is a lector at Sacred Heart Church, plays the piano, she is involved in club swimming and helps coach youth volleyball.
The homecoming nominees will be voted on by the entire THS Student Body on Oct. 6 and 7, with a queen and two attendants scheduled to be announced during halftime of the Bulldogs’ varsity football game on Friday against Downey.
