Homecoming Weekend
by Dani Tsao and Milan Riley
Pep Rally
On Friday, October 24th, East Valley High School and The Science Academy joined together in the gym to start our Falcon Homecoming Weekend fun with a pep rally. The gym was filled with laughter as various students were dressed in cowboy hats and boots for our Wild West theme. The pep rally started off with dances from the Cheer and the Dance Teams before the introduction of the Fall sports. Afterwards, the festivities moved into various games where students participated in tug-of-war, hula hoop racing, and musical chairs. The rally then ended with students flooding onto the gym floor for group line dancing, filling both schools’ student bodies with excitement for the upcoming weekend.
Homecoming Game
At 6:00pm on Friday, our Homecoming game against South LA College Prep (SLACP) started with an exhilarating 30+ yard punt return by Ramon Palafox, an East Valley senior. The Falcons offense dominated down the field to score the first touchdown of the game. Our defense was equally as dominant, as we were able to shut down South LA College Prep and cause numerous turnovers.
The stands were filled with color from our Spirit Week neon-out with students throwing colored powder into the air after every touchdown. By halftime, the Falcons held a commanding 26–0 lead. During halftime, the students enjoyed a vibrant Homecoming Parade, featuring our fall sports teams and the Homecoming Court.
Starting the second half, SLACP’s offense started gaining momentum, leading them into Falcon territory. But Science Academy junior Owen Rothenberg came up clutch with an interception in the end zone, preserving the shutout. His interception then led to a 50-yard touchdown pass from East Valley senior Gio Torres, further extending the Falcon’s lead.
Late in the fourth quarter, SLACP was once again 5 yards from the end zone, about to make their first score. But Science Academy sophomore Robert Masumyan sealed the game with another interception, ensuring the Falcon’s 34-0 victory. The night ended with a loud Falcon chant as everyone cleared the stands with festive excitement for the next day’s Homecoming Dance.
Homecoming Dance
As soon as the sun set on Saturday, students in fashionable dresses and suits arrived on campus for the 7pm dance. Attendees were met with a glamorously decorated quad, designed with balloon arches, stylish tablecloths, and trailing flower garlands setting an atmosphere that perfectly encapsulated the "Midnight on the Bayou” theme. A tasty meal consisting of a Dave’s Hot Chicken slider, a drink, chips, and a cupcake was provided for students who had bought their tickets in advance. Guests spent their night enjoying the photo booth with funny props and hitting their fav moves to hype songs on the dance floor, courtesy of a professional DJ. A new addition to our Homecoming Dance traditions were the large light sticks; every dancer grabbed one and illuminated the night as they waved them in the air to the beat.
Homecoming Court
A highlight of the evening was the crowning of the 2025 Homecoming Court. For The Science Academy, the honor was bestowed upon these deserving students:
9th Grade
Lord: Jackson R.
Lady: Ilkay K.
10th Grade
Duke: Ezra R.
Duchess: Bogdana K.
11th Grade
Prince: Eero W.
Princess: Lily K.
12th Grade
King: Emily G.
Queen: Alex R.
Congratulations to these pairs who wowed the crowd with their elegant slow dances!
After such an activity-packed 2025 Homecoming, students can’t help but look forward to the next one. These festivities have given us all a much-needed boost as we go into November and head towards the end of the Fall semester. Thank you to the student body for participating so enthusiastically, the staff for their supervision to ensure safety, the football team for giving the Falcons a shutout win, and ASB for planning and organizing this wonderful weekend!