This year, students grades 6-12 were given the opportunity to submit a personal design for the homecoming t-shirt. This competition gives students an opportunity to present their graphics to their peers in a competitive way. The top three designs are presented with gift cards of $10, $25, and the winner, $50. The winning design also gets printed on a t-shirt that students can purchase and wear to school on a specific day in place of uniforms. Some of the students who participated in this competition were Kensie Waller, Tucker Bojo, and the winner, Gracie Cowan.
“It’s just something that sparked my interest when they brought it up in advisory, and I just wanted to try something new,” freshman Bojo said.
Competitors were allowed to create their own creative designs for the chance to be put on a T-shirt distributed to the school. Students included multiple different elements that made their design unique from the others.
“My design included two clashing helmets, one from Darlington and one from Temple the school we are playing on homecoming night,” senior Cowan said. “It also had a crown over the word homecoming because the design needed an element of homecoming royalty and court because that’s a big part of homecoming as well as the football game itself.”
Students were given specific criteria to follow while designing their shirts. They had to use the Darlington approved tiger paw as well as making the focus of the design on the homecoming football game.
“I included a football player, and I actually traced a picture of Brooke [Temple] and colored it with the Darlington colors because it needed to be focused around the football game instead of the dance,” senior Waller said.
The competition allows students from all grade levels to get involved and express their creativity. It is an opportunity for teenage artists to contribute to a school tradition in a fun way.
“I think it’s a fun way to get involved in homecoming, it also give a chance for artists to participate,” Cowan said.
The homecoming shirts have become a tradition that brings students together. Each design aims to boost spirit and excitement leading up to the big football game.
“I am excited that everyone enjoys the shirt and I hope that people buy it to show school spirit and get excited for homecoming,” Cowan said.