Tomorrow, which is just a short ways away, the Homecoming King and Queen will be announced. But before that can happen, it’s up to you, the Topeka High Trojans, to vote for whom you feel best embodies Homecoming Royalty. Learn more about the candidates by reading how their activities and personal connections have shaped their views of Topeka High.

Questions:

What activities and extracurriculars are you involved with?

Cora: “I’m in the Topeka High Orchestra and I’m the principal cellist of the Topeka Youth Symphony. I’m also section leader in Cello Collective, and I take cello lessons at Washburn. Lots of cello stuff. I do a bunch of art with Ms. Cline, and then tennis, I’m team captain.”

Gustavo: “I’m in Interact, AFS, and I do a few more sports throughout the year.” Gustavo is also a member of Scholars Bowl, Link Crew, NEHS, and Mu Alpha Theta.

Ti’zerria: “I’m really involved in theater. I’ve been an officer for two years, and I got the lead in the show we’re doing. I’ve been section leader in band for the past three years. I play the tenor sax. I’ve been a part of the Trojan Cup for the past two years. I went to Nationals for two years in a row for speech and debate.”

Isaac: “I’m involved with Link Crew. I was part of Advanced Jazz Band, but I couldn’t do it this semester, just because our schedule conflicts. I like to kayak whenever I can… I just joined Hiking Club and I’m very excited. I like to do plant stuff.”

Alejandra: “I’ve done volleyball for four years. I’ve been in Spirit Club since freshman year. I did Scholar’s Bowl. I’ve been in Mu Alpha Theta for three years. I’ve been in NHS for two years. I’ve been in AFS for two years. I played soccer for two years, hopefully this year is the third. I’ve been in STUGO for three years. I did voting club for a year. I was softball manager for a year. I’ve done Trojan Cup for two years and Link Crew for two years. And I’ve been in the National Equity Lab Honor Society three years, and I’ve been in Interact for four years.” Alejandra has also been President of the French Club for two years.

Jaxon: “So right now, I manage cross country, I do swim and dive, and I run track and field.”

Jo’Mhara: “Varsity softball, varsity volleyball, varsity basketball. NEHS, NHS, STUGO, BSU, Link Crew, Spirit Club, Superintendent’s Advisory, and I play club sports also.” Jo is also an athletic training student and on the Morning Report.

Bre’elle: “Stugo, Cheer, Band, Link Crew, Spirit Club, NHS, NEHS, and Tri-M.”

DJ: “Football, wrestling, and BSU.”

Robert: “Football, BSU, basketball, and track and field.”

Daquea: “I’m involved in cheer, BSU, Trojan Cup, Avid, and Link Crew.”

What’s your favorite part about going to Topeka High?

Cora: “I like to talk to people. I’m a very chatty person, so I just use school as a social event, learning. So I like the people, and then orchestra, obviously. There’s a lot of interesting things happening here, I’m entertained.”

Gustavo: “My favorite part is probably the building, because it’s just so grand, and it’s really nice. I mean, I was sitting outside earlier and just kind of enjoying the natural shape of the trees- it isn’t necessarily part of the building, but I mean, it just complements it so well.”

Ti’zerria: “Honestly, our school spirit, because no matter win or lose, we’re all gonna support each other, no matter what we’re gonna show up for each other.”

Isaac: “I think for the most part, people are very understanding. It’s very common to hear about the diversity of Topeka High and that’s because it’s true, and because of that it makes people a lot more understanding.”

Alejandra: “One of my favorite things about Topeka high is how many opportunities are given to students. Like, if you want to thrive, you have the resources, you just have to want to. There’s so many clubs and so many academic classes you could take. I think that’s amazing, and I think that there’s not too many high schools that do that. And here it’s like people take it for granted, and they don’t really realize how much Topeka High is giving them. Coming from a school in Spain where we don’t have any sort of school spirit at all. To me, this is like, wow. And then I hear some people saying Topeka High doesn’t even have that many things. And I’m like, ‘Are you kidding?’ It has so much.”

Jaxon: “I’d say the people like, I made a lot of really good friends here, a lot of really good friends here. I feel like everybody’s pretty much nice.”

Jo’Mhara: “I like the tradition that Topeka High carries, and I like all the people, the diversity that Topeka High has. You’ll see everything.”

Bre’elle: “The tradition. I love going to a school with so much history and pride.”

DJ: “Playing football with my brothers and having stuff to look back on, great memories.”

Robert: “The culture and attitude of the student body is unmatched.”

Daquea: “My favorite part about going to Topeka High is definitely the people here.”

What’s something you think people should know about you?

Cora: “I’m secretly good at sports. I used to play basketball for eight years and softball for nine.”

Gustavo: “People should know that I like to help others. So if there’s anything that someone thinks I could possibly help them with, or they just want advice, anything like that, really, I would love to try and help them with that.”

Ti’zerria: “I’m pretty much an open book. If you come up to me, you might just hear my whole life story. But I think people should know that I’m actually a really good person, like, I’m a good friend. Like, I’m trustworthy and reliable for the most part- don’t ask for my teachers, but for the most part, reliable in that like, I’ll literally always be there for you. I’ll put you before me when it comes to things like that. If you need to sit down and talk, I try to talk about you and what you’re going through rather than what me and what I’m going through.”

Isaac: “If you are somebody in my life, I very much care about you. I got your back. I want to be someone where, if you need to talk to somebody, I want to be one of those people.”

Alejandra: “I’ve had people come up to me and tell me that I am a mean and scary person, and I just think of myself like the complete opposite. And it really makes me sad that people think that they can’t come talk to me, or they can’t say hi in the hallway, like, even if I don’t know you, if you smile that makes me happy. So that’s something that I would like people to know, is that not mean, even though sometimes I can look mean.”

Jaxon: “I’m a pretty nice guy, pretty much approachable for the most part. The more you get to know me, I feel like people find out I’m a pretty funny dude.”

Jo’Mhara: “People should know that I’m very approachable. Sometimes my face doesn’t say it, but I’m usually always in a good mood.”

Bre’elle: “I am a very outgoing person. It may be too much sometimes but I really just enjoy being funny and making people smile.”

DJ: “I’m a very nice person, very positive, and I can be and I may look mean, but I’m always up to talk to you.”

Robert: “I want to be everyone’s biggest supporter, I am unique.”

Daquea: “I think people should know that I am a very sweet and caring person and I’m always here if someone needs to talk.”

Who inspires you most?

Cora: “My dad. He does like everything, and then I help him out sometimes. And then he also makes time for us by doing, like, movie nights every week and stuff. And then my cello teacher because she’s awesome. I wouldn’t have really done cello [without her.]”

Gustavo: “I’d say my mom, because just everything that she’s been through, not only like, you know, coming to the United States and adjusting to a new life here, finding her own way of doing things, but recently she was really ill and just in a really devastated kind of state. So just the fact that she’s been able to recover and move past it is just so inspiring to me.”

Ti’zerria: “Probably my sister. I say that because she was the first one of our generation to go to college. Not only that, but she managed to go to college she completely paid for with, like, scholarships and full rides and grants and stuff. She and just like, all she’s accomplished pretty much by herself, and she’s really successful, and she’s changing the world little by little as she’s going along in her adulthood.”

Isaac: “I don’t know if I really do things for other people, other than to be there for people. Obviously, I love my friends and people around me, but inspirational wise, I more want to get better because I want to get better.”

Alejandra: “I have to say my parents. I mean, they’ve always been really supportive of everything. They just truly want what’s best for me and will support me no matter what, but at the same time, like, try to guide me in the right direction. And obviously, like, I’m gonna make some mistakes. Nothing you can do about that, but they’re really inspiring. Like, moving from Spain wasn’t easy for any of us, and we’ve done it twice… They gave up so much just for me and my sister to have more. More opportunities, more experience, more languages. And I just admire them for that, because it’s scary.”

Jaxon: “I’d say probably either my mom or my uncle. My mom’s been there for like because we when my dad passed away when I was a little kid, my mom, like, was raising three kids basically by herself, and then my uncle is just super, super supportive. So he shows up to, like, literally everything that I do. He’s always, like, right behind me.”

Jo’Mhara: “My grandma. My grandma’s gone through a lot, but still persists and stays happy and always has the best advice.”

Bre’elle: “All the women in my life. My mom, sister, grandma, aunts. They are all so strong and independent and I want to be the same way.”

DJ: “My mother. She does a lot for us, as in my family, so she always inspired me to push myself and do more, even when I think I’m doing a lot.”

Robert: “My Inspiration changes, I take inspiration from different people so I guess everyone is.”

Daquea: “My mom inspires me the most.”

Why did you decide to run for Homecoming Royalty?

Cora: “It was kind of me and Gustavo wanted to do it as a joke… We thought that it would be so funny and cool, and you need some rep from people who aren’t the sporty type of popular. Because, I mean, they’re only half of the population of the school and the other half has to vote for someone as well.”

Gustavo: “I decided to run because Cora asked me, and Cora’s a pretty cool person. I was like, you know, why not?”

Ti’zerria: “Since freshman year I’ve known I wanted to go for Homecoming… Homecoming was the first dance I ever went to for high school, and that’s when I fell in love with high school. That’s where I fell in love with the school.”

Isaac: “Ti asked me, ‘Hey, Isaac, do you want to run?’ And I was like, ‘That sounds like fun.’ And I genuinely don’t know who else I would run with.”

Alejandra: “I don’t even know how this is gonna sound, but it is such an American thing. Like, you watch any American movie and there’s always some sort of part about, like, royalty for homecoming. It’s just, it’s just always been like my dream, and like all my friends in Spain, just like we would watch those movies. I’m like, like, Americans really are living the life, like, hello! So it’s just kind of been a dream that I’ve had since I was little, and I never thought it would be possible. I actually cannot believe it. I don’t even really care about winning that much. I just glad I got nominated, because I get to do all the fun stuff.”

Jaxon: “I don’t know. I’ve been wanting to do it since I was in middle school, so I figured it would be kind of a fun experience to have.”

Jo’Mhara: “Honestly, I wanted to ride in a cool car.”

Bre’elle: “I decided to run for Homecoming Royalty because it is something I always wanted to do as a kid. Seeing all the girls in the pretty dresses on the field inspired me to want to be the same.”

DJ: “I decided to run for homecoming mostly because I wanted to have some fun while also playing football because it’s also that time. Most people know me around football season, just to win that football game and also win king sounds great to me.”

Robert: “It felt right, due to the fact that I play football, and also it is a good time to represent my social and impactful side and just the experience.”

Daquea: “The reason I decided to run for Homecoming Queen is because my Uncle had ran and won King when he was in school and I thought it would be fun.”

Why should people vote for you?

Cora: “I think I’m pretty cool. I think that I would say I’m a nice person, though, usually if you say you’re nice, you usually aren’t very nice… but I would say I’ve had people tell me I’m nice. I’m friends with anyone. I consider anyone who talks to me and gives me the time of day my friend and I would say I am not a judgmental person at all.”

Gustavo: “I think all of the other candidates have their own demographics that they appeal to. I’m not really, like, you know, varsity captain or anything. So I’m kind of just, you know, trying to make people laugh.”

Ti’zerria: “I think I am a good person, and I’m a good person to everyone around me. I’m a good person to myself, and I love and I know myself to help other people know and love themselves too. I’m just me, like, I’m not fake. I don’t try to put another persona just to make other people happy. I’m just real.”

Isaac: “I’m just a guy. I’m not in a lot of extracurricular things. I just know a lot of people, and I get along very well with people, I think. I don’t really think I have very many enemies. I don’t think anybody actively hates my guts. And if they do, they’re doing a very good job at keeping it a secret.”

Alejandra: “I’m just an ordinary student going to a really big school. I try to stay involved and participate in all the little things that the school has to offer. And I like to think that I’m kind to everybody that I come across, and that even though I can be perceived as someone who’s judgy, I’m not. And if you come up and talk to me, I’m actually really nice.”

Jaxon: “I think I’m a pretty nice guy. I think I’m a pretty funny dude too. I’d like to think I’ve made a pretty good impact on school.”

Jo’Mhara: “I think that people should vote for me because I carry a lot of knowledge on stuff that Topeka High has, and I like to stay involved. And I’m really kind to people. Anyone can ask me anything, and I can find a compliment from the top of my head. I just love people.”

Bre’elle: “I think people should vote for me because I feel like I am very connected with so many different groups of people. With all of my extracurriculars, I am always trying my hardest to reach new people and really be a relatable person who everyone likes. It would always be nice if I could represent all of the young black girls who are inspired by me.”

DJ: “I feel like people should vote me because I’m a great role model. So why wouldn’t you count on that?”

Robert: “I represent myself very well, I am outgoing and supportive. I think it wouldn’t be a bad choice with the great amount of competition in the court along with myself. I also just want people to recognize me as a very energetic personality, so they’ll feel the excitement of me behind that very vote.”

Daquea: “I would say I am the most down to earth person.”