The Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court for 2018 is pictured above. Top left, Kaitlin Valenzuela, Abigail Gerlock, Hailee Ladd, Makiya Garrett, and Kaylynn Eastridge; and top right, Thomas Peplow, Dillon Nowatchik, Javonte’ Thomas, Quentin Viau, and Alex Baker. (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)
The 2018 Homecoming Court has been selected for Oak Ridge High School, and Homecoming is today (Friday, October 19).
The Homecoming football game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Jack Armstrong Stadium. The Oak Ridge Wildcats (7-1, 4-0 Region 3-5A) will play the Powell Panthers. Powell is 1-7 overall and 1-4 in the region but had to forfeit six wins due to an ineligible player.
Here is information on the members of the Homecoming Court, provided by Diana Homan, ORHS math teacher.
Kaitlin Valenzuela is a 17-year-old girl who loves her three dogs and one cat. She spends her time outside of school at band practice and Masquers rehersal.
Thomas Peplow is 17. He is active in his Boy Scout troop and is currently working on his Eagle Scout. He was a delegate to American Legion Boys State. He is the first chair flute in the ORHS Band, and he has danced ballet for more than seven years.
Abigail Gerlock is a senior at ORHS. She moved to Tennessee from Los Alamos, New Mexico, in 2013 and has been involved in her community and her school ever since. She participated in the Ulster Project of East Tennessee for two consecutive summers, has marched in the Oak Ridge Wildband Color Guard for all four years of high school, and is currently involved in many clubs such as National Honors Society, Prom Board, and Youth for Christ. When not at school or band practice, Abigail loves outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, rock-climbing, and kayaking.
Dillon Nowatchik is the son of Melissa Rogers and is involved in the musical theater program at the high school as well as acting at the Oak Ridge Playhouse. Dillon earned the senior superlative for most spirited and is the schools student section leader for football and basketball games. Dillon is going to be pursuing musical theater when he graduates and hopes to be seen on Broadway some day.
Hailee Ladd is 17. Her passions include traveling, reading, and volunteering. She loves visiting animals at the animal shelter. During the past summer, Hailee took a three week trip to France, where she got to experience different life and culture in the different regions of France. She participates in several extracurricular activities such as National Honor’s Society, Key Club, and French Club. Hailee enjoys the outdoors and would like to possibly study environmental science in college.
Javonte’ Thomas is son of Shanel and John Thomas. Javonte’ plays basketball for ORHS and has many academic accomplishments. Outside of school, Javonte’ enjoys playing video games such as 2K and going to the gym to play basketball, and he has a job that he enjoys. He has a brother Jaquez and a sister Andrianna Porter.
Makiya Garrett is the daughter of Catesha Williams and the late Gordon Garrett. She is a four-year letterman on the track team in the long jump and is a sprinter. She is also a two-year varsity cheerleader and a 2018 All American. Makiya is involved in Young Life, Men of Tomorrow and was a 2018 Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante receiving an AKA scholarship. Makiya is an active member of Word of Life Baptist Church and plans to attend either Roane State or Carson Newman.
Quentin Viau is the son of Michael Viau, a salesman at Badger Industries, and Tracy Viau, a registered nurse at Thompson Survival Cancer Center at Methodist Medical Center. Sister Samantha is an ORHS and UT Knoxville graduate working at WBIR. Quentin is a member of the National Honors Society and enjoys hanging out with his friends. He is also a cashier at Food City in Oak Ridge.
Kaylynn Eastridge is the daughter of Sandi Paull. She has lived in Oak Ridge since she was three years old. Kaylynn did gymnastics for nine years, and also enjoyed singing and dancing in Sound Company for several years. Both her grandmother, Mimi, and her grandfather, Poppa, have had an incredible influence in her life. The relationships she has with her family, including her sweet dog Lilly, are one of the greatest values in her life. Kaylynn’s biggest priority is her walk with the Lord, and her second priority is her grades. She is grateful to have the opportunity to run for homecoming queen at Oak Ridge High School.
Alexander Baker, the son of Mike and Kandice Baker, is one of the seniors nominated to the homecoming court this school year. One of Alexander’s hobbies include playing ultimate Frisbee for the Oak Ridge Ultimate Club. He also enjoys going to the school football games and participates in the Wildcat Pride club at Oak Ridge High School. He has many family members that are a part of his life, including his parents, his two older sisters, his older brother, and his twin brother.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
2018 Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court: Alex Baker and Kaylynn Eastridge (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)
2018 Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court: Javonte’ Thomas and Hailee Ladd (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)
2018 Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court: Quentin Viau and Makiya Garrett (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)
2018 Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court: Thomas Peplow and Kaitlan Valenzuela (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)
2018 Oak Ridge High School Homecoming Court: Dillon Nowatchik and Abigail Gerlock (Photo courtesy Diana Homan)
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