Homecoming royalty: from kings and queens to MVPs

PHOTO: Seniors Una Keller and Declan Fee bask in the glory of winning Homecoming MVP.

By Ava Giovannettone,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Homecoming can be one of the most exciting and memorable parts of high school. The different themed days of the week, the parade, the football game and of course, the dance. Along with these activities, the tradition of nominating homecoming royalty plays an iconic role in the American high school experience. However, this year at Davis High, Homecoming kings and queens have been replaced with two “MVPs” or Most Valuable Players, from each grade who are nominated and voted for by students. 

So why would a tradition that has been going on for so many years, in schools all across the country, suddenly be changed? Student government, and the teachers in charge of making these changes, have all agreed that changing from king and queen to MVPs has a load of benefits. 

Junior student body president, Sarah Fingerman explained that the change takes away the pressure for the winners to be couples, and pointed out that winners could be the same gender. She also pointed out this change makes it easier for those who are non binary, or just don’t identify as male or female, to participate in DHS royalty. 

Originally, student government thought that there might be pushback and disagreement from those who wish to keep the original tradition of king and queen. But according to Fingerman, there has been a lot of positive feedback from the students and admin. 

“It’s still royalty, it’s just more inclusive and a way to boost participation, if you don’t like it then you can choose not to participate,” Fingerman said. 

Former Homecoming nominee, junior Samantha Galloway, expressed how she likes that it doesn’t matter the gender of the nominees, it only matters who gets the most votes, “It seems overall more fair, with no type of discrimination attached to it,” Galloway said.

Sophomore MVP´s: Mako Barrios and Nisha Chander

By Eleanor Whitney,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Mako Barrios

Mako Barrios, is a sophomore at Davis High and the winner of sophomore MVPs. You probably know him, whether it’s from seeing him at his job at the Farmer’s Market or at Speech and Debate or Latinos Unidos Club. 

Barrios works at Davis Bread and Desserts every Saturday at the Farmer’s Market.

He said he just went up to the vendors and asked if they were looking to hire when he got his job. “It’s not a job where you need tons of experience to do well in,” Barrios said.

Barrios appreciates his job at Davis Bread and Desserts because it offers “something stable in my life, it’s something consistent.”

While Barrios appreciates the consistency of his job, he said he’s “not very much into planning and scheduling, just kinda into living in the moment,” stating planning and scheduling is “boring”.

The experimentation with different clubs is “to explore what I might like” Barrios said. 

When Barrios isn’t at work or clubs, you can find him spending time with friends and family, playing video games, or playing tennis. 

Barrios lives with his mom, dad and younger brother, while his older brother is at UC Davis. He has been playing tennis for approximately six years. Last year he was on JV and is planning to try out for varsity this year.

Nisha Chander 

Sophomore Nisha Chander, winner of sophomore MVP is a member of the DHS dance team and student government’s Devil Pride Squad.

“I felt really excited because this is my first year at DHS and it just felt really nice to be included in a school tradition,” Chander said. 

Chander learned that she was this year’s sophomore MVP after the homecoming parade when Nora Dulaney sent her an email saying Chander needed to be at the halftime show rehearsals for dance. 

Chander has been doing dance for seven years and at DHS for two. “I always loved the art of movement, but having friends who already danced really made me want to ther into it and it all just kind of grew from there,” Chander said.

Chander plans on continuing dance through college and keep it as a hobby, but intends to go into the medical field. “I’ve been very interested in the human body all my life but definitely Grey’s Anatomy has really persuaded me,” Chander said. 

Chander hopes to attend UC Santa Barbra or a college on the east coast to continue her journey into the medical world.

Junior MVPs: Shuxin Li and Dylan Jayalath

By Rowan Reising,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

A balanced being – friends, fitness, faculty

Shuxin Li’s ability to balance her priorities

Junior Shuxin Li has a busy schedule: competitive swimming, coaching DART swimmers, lifeguarding and arduous classes. Despite this full calendar, she balances her life with finesse.

Li now competes for the Davis High team with her friends. Since swimming is a big part of her life, doing it with companions helps her harmonize the sport and her social life.

“It does get kind of hard balancing things,” Li said. In spring, when swim is in season, she prioritizes school and swimming during the weekdays, with friends and family filling up the weekends. On quieter days, she spends her free time reading or watching an episode of a show.

“I don’t know how she does it since she has really hard classes, swim coaching and swim,” Lena Kim, a close friend of Li’s said. “(Regardless), she puts so much effort into all her friendships which makes her such an amazing person.”

A Way to Play

Dylan Jayalath’s incorporation of soccer to his daily life

To many, soccer is merely a sport watched on TV, but to junior Dylan Jayalath, it is a teacher of life-long lessons and a language in which people from different walks of life communicate.

Jayalath’s passion for soccer started at four in an attempt to be like his older brother. “I think I really fell in love with soccer when I first played because a 5-year-old me was playing with my brother,” Jayalath said.

Mesera Jayalth, his brother, is a role model and best friend who ensures Jayalath stays in check with things like school.

Not only does it help Jayalath connect with his brother when he comes home from college, but also strangers who turn into friends. “I think it has (played) a big part (in) my personality,” Jayalath said.

“When I’m playing soccer, I just forget about everything else, and I’m just having fun,” Jayalath said. He describes it as an “escape” and a way to have fun.

In addition, soccer has taught Jayalath respect. He believes that in the end, players must respect their opponents, win or lose. He considers this lesson applicable anywhere.

The 2022 junior class has noticed these attributes and voted them in as the junior class´ MVP´s.

Senior MVP´s announced at Homecoming game

By Jeremiah Haskins,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

As senior MVPs were announced during the homecoming game halftime show, Davis High was full of cheers and celebration. 

DHS seniors were able to participate in voting for senior MVPs this year. Awards were held on Friday during the Homecoming football game. 

It was an eventful day after the homecoming parade and many students showed out with their “Blue Devil Pride”.

DHS seniors were waiting patiently for the senior MVPs as the rest of the awards were being called out. 

Sophomore MVPs were announced first, then junior MVPs and senior MVPs came last.

While their votes were counted, students were curious on what would be the outcome.

Senior MVPs were announced as Declan Fee and Una Keller.

The student section erupted in cheers.

 “When my name was announced, it was really cool to hear all the people cheering for me and Declan,” Keller said. 

Declan talked about his gratitude for the school “I loved it, the community is very strong and it’s all been very welcoming,” Fee said.