Cougar Nation Celebrates JFK Homecoming

The Cougar Nation at John F. Kennedy High School created a sea of green and white to display ultimate school pride at its Oct. 18 homecoming game.

While the football squad fell to opponents New Hyde Park High School, that didn’t stop the crowd from celebrating and making the moment a memorable one.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how these young men represented our school on the football field,” said Principal Gerard Owenburg.

The Friday night lights game followed an afternoon festival that included various club booths, a lively bonfire and various performances.

The traditional bonfire was held on the baseball field just before the game. Kennedy cheerleaders invited youth from the Braves cheer squad on the sidelines for a performance. Both the cheerleaders and kickline entertained the audience during halftime.

Kiara Stefandel and Liam Orr were crowned homecoming queen and king, respectively.

The band, led by Walter Avellaneda, amped up the crowd throughout the evening. A tradition established a few years ago, a raffle was again held each quarter, offering students the opportunity win couch seats on the sidelines — complete with curb-side service from the Culinary and Hospitality Applied Management Program (CHAMP) chefs.